How much does an economist make in Los Angeles?
$151,500a year
Median yearly pay for economists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $72.84 an hour or $12,630 a month.
- Hourly
- $72.84
- Vs. national median
- +21%
- Rank among cities
- 5 of 62
- Jobs in the area
- 200
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $84,880Median: $151,500Highest 10%: $257,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $84,880 | $40.81 | |
| 25th | $108,700 | $52.27 | |
| Median | $151,500 | $72.84 | |
| 75th | $183,900 | $88.41 | |
| 90th | $257,000 | $123.56 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for economists.
| San Francisco, CA | $142,400 |
| San Diego, CA | $122,800 |
| Sacramento, CA | $100,400 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $160,300 |
| Psychologist | $153,600 |
| Materials Scientist | $150,000 |
| Physical Scientist | $136,200 |
| Medical Scientist | $134,900 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $131,700 |
| Sociologist | $124,500 |
| Hydrologist | $123,400 |
| School Psychologist | $122,400 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $111,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an economist make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $72.84 ($151,500 a year).
Do economists make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $151,500 against $124,700 nationally, 21% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $119,400, so Los Angeles pays 27% more.
Where does Los Angeles rank for economist pay?
5 of 62 metro areas with data.
How much does an economist make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $84,880 or less a year; the top 10% make $257,000 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.