Economist salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Economists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $103,600 a year ($49.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $152,840 for the top 10%. That is 17% lower than the national median of $124,720. Pay here is 25% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $137,590. There are 0.07 economists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $109,300, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for economists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,570 | $29.60 |
| 25th percentile | $78,920 | $37.94 |
| Median | $103,600 | $49.81 |
| 75th percentile | $139,030 | $66.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $152,840 | $73.48 |
| Average (mean) | $109,300 | $52.55 |
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 | $8,633.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,316.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,984.62 |
| Weekly | $1,992.31 |
| Hourly | $49.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $103,600 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,750 | 4,570 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $152,130 | 120 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $117,600 | 80 |
| Richmond, VA | $112,330 | 120 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $96,030 | 40 |
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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $107,910 | $51.88 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,010 | $43.76 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $82,760 | $39.79 |
| School Psychologist | $86,510 | $41.59 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $135,470 | $65.13 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $50,630 | $24.34 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $89,920 | $43.23 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $78,600 | $37.79 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $117,640 | $56.56 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $90,020 | $43.28 |
| Physicist | $110,930 | $53.33 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $59,080 | $28.40 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for economists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $103,600 a year, or $49.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $152,840 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid economists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of economists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $152,840 a year. The top 25% earn $139,030 or more.
What is the starting pay for economists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,570 a year, and a quarter of economists earn $78,920 or less.
How many economists work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 50 economists are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.