Career
Economists
Study how people and societies use money, work and resources.
$124,720
Median pay
+4.7%
Job growth, 2025–35
1,100
Openings a year
Master's degree
Typical education
6 years
Typical time after high school
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- 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.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on ideas & analysis, then information & systems?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Mathematics, Writing.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
6 years of education after high school (master's degree), for a median of $124,720 a year and 1,100 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Political ScienceSee the degree →
- EconomicsSee the degree →
- Agricultural BusinessSee the degree →
- Agricultural EconomicsCIP 01.0103
- Environmental/Natural Resource EconomicsCIP 03.0204
- Financial MathematicsCIP 27.0305
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Environmental Economists
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$123,920 · +2.4%
- Financial and Investment Analysts$102,740 · +7.2%
- Political Scientists$142,080 · -2.0%
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary$99,080 · +5.9%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.