Economists Salary in San Francisco, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Median annual salary $134,410 +16.4% vs national
Median hourly $64.62
10th percentile $78,090
90th percentile $220,670
Employed locally 440
National median $115,440

Compare Economists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how San Francisco, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Economists
in
San Francisco, CA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $78,090
    25th
    $98,550
    50th (median)
    $134,410
    75th
    $180,020
    90th
    $220,670

    San Francisco economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $133,780 2023 • Census ACS
    Economists salary vs area income 100% Median Economists salary is 0% 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
    Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $123,140
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $121,820
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $118,190
    Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN $114,070
    North Carolina $111,770
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $111,320

    Related occupations in San Francisco, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $142,540
    Biological Scientists, All Other $132,670
    Biological Technicians $79,270
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $160,210
    Chemists $126,190
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other $80,100

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Economists make per hour in San Francisco?

    The median hourly wage for Economists in San Francisco, CA is $64.62, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $102.87 or more per hour.

    Is San Francisco above or below average for Economists salaries?

    The median Economists salary in San Francisco, CA is 16.4% above 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 San Francisco?

    Entry-level Economists (10th percentile) earn around $78,090 per year in San Francisco, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $98,550.