Economists Salary in Raleigh, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Raleigh-Cary, NC

Median annual salary $97,600 -15.5% vs national
Median hourly $46.92
10th percentile $75,690
90th percentile $178,670
Employed locally 60
National median $115,440

Compare Economists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Raleigh, NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Economists
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Raleigh, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $75,690
    25th
    $85,210
    50th (median)
    $97,600
    75th
    $140,250
    90th
    $178,670

    Raleigh economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $96,066 2023 • Census ACS
    Economists salary vs area income 102% Median Economists salary is 2% 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
    Durham-Chapel Hill, NC $108,020

    Related occupations in Raleigh, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $66,370
    Chemists $80,940
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $102,470
    Biological Scientists, All Other $102,030
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $81,560
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $117,060

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Economists make per hour in Raleigh?

    The median hourly wage for Economists in Raleigh, NC is $46.92, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $84.48 or more per hour.

    Is Raleigh above or below average for Economists salaries?

    The median Economists salary in Raleigh, NC is 15.5% 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 Raleigh?

    Entry-level Economists (10th percentile) earn around $75,690 per year in Raleigh, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $85,210.