Economists Salary in Durham, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Median annual salary $108,020 -6.4% vs national
Median hourly $51.93
10th percentile $55,120
90th percentile $179,620
National median $115,440

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Economists
in
Durham, NC
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $55,120
    25th
    $68,190
    50th (median)
    $108,020
    75th
    $136,820
    90th
    $179,620

    Durham economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $81,017 2023 • Census ACS
    Economists salary vs area income 133% Median Economists salary is 33% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Economists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $168,850
    District of Columbia $162,610
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $157,980
    Virginia $148,010
    New York $142,300
    Maryland $137,610

    Nearby metros — Economists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $134,410
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $124,780
    Anchorage, AK $124,590
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $117,750
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $116,880
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $100,610

    Related occupations in Durham, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Chemists $78,240
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $104,300
    Biological Scientists, All Other $96,780
    Biological Technicians $41,060
    Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other $84,570
    Microbiologists $90,790

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Economists make per hour in Durham?

    The median hourly wage for Economists in Durham, NC is $51.93, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $107.82 or more per hour.

    Is Durham above or below average for Economists salaries?

    The median Economists salary in Durham, NC is 6.4% below the national median of $115,440. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Economists in Durham?

    Entry-level Economists (10th percentile) earn around $55,120 per year in Durham, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $68,190.