Occupations · Life, Physical, and Social Science
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.
O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 19-3011.00
What it pays
A single “average salary” hides the spread. This is the whole distribution — the gap between the bottom and top bar is usually the number that matters.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024 · national, cross-industry · annual wage
Pay over time
Median up 64% between 2003 and 2024, before inflation. The band shows the 10th to 90th percentile.
BLS OEWS, one release per year. Before May 2011 only national estimates were published, so geography detail starts there.
Where the jobs are
| Metro area | Median wage | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $157,980 | 4,300 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | $168,850 | 730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $111,320 | 590 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI | $123,140 | 470 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA | $134,410 | 440 |
| Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA | $92,270 | 380 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $127,220 | 310 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $118,190 | 300 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $129,280 | 250 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $121,820 | 230 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $97,610 | 210 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $125,630 | 200 |
BLS OEWS May 2024, metropolitan estimates · the 12 areas with the most people in this occupation
Typical education to enter: Master's degree · BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
What people in this job actually do
Ordered by how important the work is rated.
- Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
- Review documents written by others.
- Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
- Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
- Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
- Conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
- Develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
- Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.
- Testify at regulatory or legislative hearings concerning the estimated effects of changes in legislation or public policy, and present recommendations based on cost-benefit analyses.
O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale
Skills that matter most
Importance, rated 1 to 5.
O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale
Software and tools
A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.
O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag
What this work is actually like
Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.
O*NET 30.3 Job Zones
Working conditions that stand out
O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2024-08
How people actually get in
Share of workers by the education they hold.
O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2024-08
What kind of person the work suits
Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.
O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)
Tasks O*NET flags as emerging
- Construct and manage economic datasets.
- Present research at seminars and conferences.
- Review documents written by others, such as referee reports.
O*NET 30.3 emerging tasks
What you take with you
Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.
O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale
Knowledge the work draws on
Abilities it leans on
O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale
How this job is advertised
The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.
O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation
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What changed since 2015
Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 5 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.
Now listed 14
No longer listed 2
Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.
Related jobs
O*NET 30.3 related occupations
Also called
O*NET 30.3 alternative titles
The same work in Europe
| ESCO occupation | ISCO | Match |
|---|---|---|
| economist | 2631.1 | exact |
| fiscal affairs policy officer | 2422.10.6 | close |
| economic development coordinator | 2631.1.3 | close |
| business economics researcher | 2631.1.1 | close |
| economic policy officer | 2412.3 | close |
| economic adviser | 2631.1.2 | broader |
| trade development officer | 2422.14 | broader |
Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)
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