Economists · North Carolina

Economists Salary in North Carolina

Economists in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $136,150 —9.2% above the national median of $124,720. That ranks NC #8 of 40 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$136,150
Median hourly
$65.46
Entry level (P10)
$35,460
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$224,270
90th percentile
Employment
290
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+9.2%
U.S. $124,720

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$35,460
$79,790
$136,150
$172,860
$35,460$136,150$224,270
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $136,150.

Employment is only 0.52× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Highest-paying states for economists

All 40 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$167,590$80.573,00037.34
2New Jersey$167,550$80.552800.57
3Delaware$159,120$76.50701.22
4Maryland$144,680$69.561,1303.56
5Kansas$138,790$66.72800.50
6Virginia$137,590$66.159502.01
7New York$136,660$65.709100.82
8North Carolina$136,150$65.462900.52
9Idaho$131,270$63.111301.31
10Alabama$129,960$62.48400.15

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

How much do economists make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for economists in North Carolina is $136,150, or $65.46 per hour. That is 9.2% above the national median of $124,720.

What is the entry-level economists salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $35,460 per year ($17.05/hour). The 25th percentile is $79,790.

How many people work as economists in North Carolina?

About 290 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for economists?

North Carolina ranks #8 of 40 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.52x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Which state pays economists the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $167,590 per year, followed by New Jersey ($167,550) and Delaware ($159,120).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes