# Economists

> Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economists
- SOC code: 19-3011.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $124,720 (10th percentile $67,360, 90th percentile $238,060)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.7%
- Openings a year: 1,100
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ICE)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 6 |
| Investigative (I) | 100 |
| Artistic (A) | 24 |
| Social (S) | 23 |
| Enterprising (E) | 49 |
| Conventional (C) | 59 |

## What you'd do

- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 98/100)
- Getting Information (importance 94/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 94/100)
- Processing Information (importance 91/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 87/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 86/100)
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates (importance 82/100)
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization (importance 79/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 78/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 78/100)

## Skills

Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Writing, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Instructing

## Knowledge

Mathematics, Economics and Accounting, English Language, Computers and Electronics, Education and Training, Communications and Media, Law and Government, Administration and Management, Sociology and Anthropology, History and Archeology

## Also called

Agricultural Economist, Business Economist, Consultant Economist, Econometrician, Economic Advisor, Economic Analyst, Economic Consultant, Economic Developer, Economic Development Manager, Economic Development Specialist

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Political Science and Government](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4510) (CIP 4510, 1,292 colleges)
- [Economics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4506) (CIP 4506, 925 colleges)
- [Applied Mathematics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/2703) (CIP 2703, 426 colleges)
- [Agricultural Business and Management](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0101) (CIP 0101, 394 colleges)
- [Business/Managerial Economics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5206) (CIP 5206, 258 colleges)
- [Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/0302) (CIP 0302, 204 colleges)
- [Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5120) (CIP 5120, 175 colleges)
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (CIP 3051, 22 colleges)
- Mathematical Economics (CIP 3049, 13 colleges)
- Economics and Computer Science (CIP 3039, 11 colleges)
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature (CIP 3040, 1 college)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Applied Mathematics | $145,554 | $170,689 | not reported |
| [Williams College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/williams-college-3281) | Economics | $105,744 | $166,678 | $9,750 |
| [Washington University in St Louis WUSTL](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-university-in-st-louis-wustl-3172) | Business/Managerial Economics | $102,081 | $162,355 | not reported |
| [Duke University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/duke-university-837) | Economics | $124,433 | $161,149 | $13,000 |
| [Princeton University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/princeton-university-2154) | Economics | $108,471 | $160,763 | not reported |
| [University of Chicago](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-chicago-2895) | Economics | $98,564 | $159,578 | $12,500 |
| [Brown University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/brown-university-314) | Applied Mathematics | $135,449 | $157,822 | $8,125 |
| [Stevens Institute of Technology](https://www.collegesref.com/college/stevens-institute-of-technology-2604) | Applied Mathematics | $105,295 | $156,419 | $23,250 |

## Related careers

- [Environmental Economists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/environmental-economists): $124,720 median pay
- [Economics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/economics-teachers-postsecondary): $123,920 median pay
- [Financial and Investment Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-and-investment-analysts): $102,740 median pay
- [Political Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-scientists): $142,080 median pay
- [Business Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/business-teachers-postsecondary): $99,080 median pay
- [Financial Quantitative Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-quantitative-analysts): $81,100 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.