Economist salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Economists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $142,400 a year ($68.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 200 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,980 for the top 10%. That is 14% higher than the national median of $124,720. Pay here is 19% higher than the California statewide median of $119,410. There are 0.09 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $145,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,670 | $39.74 |
| 25th percentile | $94,660 | $45.51 |
| Median | $142,400 | $68.46 |
| 75th percentile | $180,390 | $86.73 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $213,980 | $102.87 |
| Average (mean) | $145,630 | $70.02 |
Half of economists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,866.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,933.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,476.92 |
| Weekly | $2,738.46 |
| Hourly | $68.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $142,400 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Economist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $151,510 | 200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $122,750 | 50 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $117,920 | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,410 | 250 |
Highest-paying states for economists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $167,590 |
| New Jersey | $167,550 |
| Delaware | $159,120 |
| Maryland | $144,680 |
| Kansas | $138,790 |
| Virginia | $137,590 |
| New York | $136,660 |
| North Carolina | $136,150 |
| Idaho | $131,270 |
| Alabama | $129,960 |
See Economist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $166,400 | $80.00 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $136,250 | $65.50 |
| School Psychologist | $130,540 | $62.76 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,090 | $48.60 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $75,480 | $36.29 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $168,040 | $80.79 |
| Survey Researcher | $110,540 | $53.14 |
| Sociologist | $134,770 | $64.80 |
| Historian | $88,790 | $42.69 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $160,180 | $77.01 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $138,160 | $66.42 |
| Biological Technician | $95,220 | $45.78 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $126,860 | $60.99 |
| Chemist | $127,790 | $61.44 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a economist make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for economists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $142,400 a year, or $68.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $213,980 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of economists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $213,980 a year. The top 25% earn $180,390 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,670 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $94,660 or less.
How many economists work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 200 economists are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.