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Agricultural Economists play a vital role in shaping agricultural policies and practices through their expertise in economic analysis. As of October 2025, the average salary for an Agricultural Economist is $71,697 per year. Salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, education level, and geographic location. For instance, those working in states like California and Texas often see higher salaries due to the demand for agricultural expertise in these regions.
Entry-level positions typically start around $50,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $100,000, depending on their role and responsibilities. Additionally, Agricultural Economists with specialized skills in data analysis or policy formulation may command higher salaries.
Many Agricultural Economists find employment in government agencies, research institutions, and private consulting firms. These organizations value the insights provided by Agricultural Economists to make informed decisions regarding agricultural practices, market trends, and food security. The field continues to grow, providing numerous opportunities for those interested in shaping the future of agriculture.
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The highest-paying states for agricultural economists are Alaska, New York, and Virginia. The lowest average agricultural economist salary states are Alabama, Florida, and Idaho.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $115,718 | $55.63 |
| 2 | Alaska | $106,790 | $51.34 |
| 3 | Virginia | $95,381 | $45.86 |
| 4 | Washington | $85,682 | $41.19 |
| 5 | Maryland | $92,598 | $44.52 |
| 6 | Montana | $81,903 | $39.38 |
| 7 | New York | $103,209 | $49.62 |
| 8 | Vermont | $86,073 | $41.38 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $78,181 | $37.59 |
| 10 | Delaware | $84,220 | $40.49 |
| 11 | California | $86,432 | $41.55 |
| 12 | Ohio | $83,375 | $40.08 |
| 13 | Illinois | $78,721 | $37.85 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $71,662 | $34.45 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $77,846 | $37.43 |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $81,156 | $39.02 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $77,339 | $37.18 |
| 18 | Nevada | $77,172 | $37.10 |
| 19 | Maine | $80,192 | $38.55 |
| 20 | Iowa | $73,094 | $35.14 |
| 21 | Massachusetts | $69,385 | $33.36 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $80,335 | $38.62 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $71,117 | $34.19 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $66,128 | $31.79 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $72,129 | $34.68 |
| 26 | Texas | $69,822 | $33.57 |
| 27 | Oregon | $70,211 | $33.76 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $75,146 | $36.13 |
| 29 | Michigan | $70,521 | $33.90 |
| 30 | Kentucky | $67,856 | $32.62 |
| 31 | Missouri | $66,090 | $31.77 |
| 32 | Kansas | $65,328 | $31.41 |
| 33 | Georgia | $68,453 | $32.91 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $60,326 | $29.00 |
| 35 | Colorado | $59,273 | $28.50 |
| 36 | New Jersey | $70,184 | $33.74 |
| 37 | Mississippi | $58,231 | $28.00 |
| 38 | Utah | $63,245 | $30.41 |
| 39 | Louisiana | $56,421 | $27.13 |
| 40 | Indiana | $57,662 | $27.72 |
| 41 | South Carolina | $63,135 | $30.35 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $60,756 | $29.21 |
| 43 | Arkansas | $53,446 | $25.70 |
| 44 | Wyoming | $38,615 | $18.56 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $40,396 | $19.42 |
| 46 | Idaho | $44,173 | $21.24 |
| 47 | Arizona | $52,414 | $25.20 |
| 48 | Florida | $44,645 | $21.46 |
| 49 | Alabama | $46,833 | $22.52 |
| 50 | Wisconsin | $48,134 | $23.14 |
| 51 | Tennessee | $40,619 | $19.53 |
The highest-paying cities for agricultural economists are Washington, DC, Hamburg, NY, and Santa Maria, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $119,993 | $57.69 |
| 2 | Hamburg, NY | $100,715 | $48.42 |
| 3 | Santa Maria, CA | $88,655 | $42.62 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $79,462 | $38.20 |
| 5 | Merrimack, NH | $75,599 | $36.35 |
| 6 | College Station, TX | $69,470 | $33.40 |
| 7 | Atlanta, GA | $68,704 | $33.03 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $65,238 | $31.36 |
| 9 | Durham, NC | $63,119 | $30.35 |
| 10 | Tampa, FL | $45,911 | $22.07 |
An agricultural economist's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $155,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $155,000 | $12,917 | $75 |
| 75th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| Average | $71,697 | $5,975 | $34 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
The highest paying types of agricultural economists are economist research assistant, economist, and senior economist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economic Development Internship | $37,977 | $3,165 | $18.26 | 92,622 |
| Economic Developer | $51,285 | $4,274 | $24.66 | 72,804 |
| Energy Economist | $58,368 | $4,864 | $28.06 | 3,512 |
| Economist | $109,102 | $9,092 | $52.45 | 1,029 |
Top companies hiring agricultural economists now:
Agricultural economist salaries at U.S. Department of Education and H2a Inc are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average agricultural economist salary at companies like AgriLogic and RTI International Metals are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Department of Education | $92,934 | $44.68 |
| 2 | H2a Inc | $68,343 | $32.86 |
| 3 | AgriLogic | $68,343 | $32.86 |
| 4 | RTI International Metals | $62,343 | $29.97 |
| 5 | University of Kentucky | $61,202 | $29.42 |
| 6 | Americorps | $58,896 | $28.32 |
| 7 | Steiner | $56,520 | $27.17 |
| 8 | My Florida Regional Mls | $52,261 | $25.13 |
| 9 | Florida Department of Transportation | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| 10 | Kansas State University | $26,898 | $12.93 |
The average agricultural economist salary has risen by $11,779 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average agricultural economist earned $59,918 annually, but today, they earn $71,697 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for agricultural economists over the last decade.
Compare agricultural economist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare agricultural economist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,700 | $34.47 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $69,500 | $33.41 | +0.6% |
| 2023 | $69,000 | $33.19 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $67,800 | $32.61 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $66,900 | $32.15 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado State University | Agricultural Economist, Livestock Marketing Information Center (Lmic) | Fort Collins, CO | 04/02/2025 | $65,000 |
| The State of Florida | Agriculture and Consumer Protect Spec | Belle Glade, FL | 03/16/2025 | $44,000 |
| Aeesp | Environmental Contaminants In Agriculture | Noank, CT | 02/16/2025 | $56,982 |
| State of Florida | Agriculture and Consumer Protect Spec | Arcadia, FL | 01/30/2025 | $44,000 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | Agriculture | Malta, MT | 01/07/2025 | $33,970 |
| Federal Reserve Bank of Boston | Agricultural Economist | Omaha, NE | 12/15/2024 | $138,200 |
| Montana Office of Public Instruction | Agriculture | Custer, MT | 12/14/2024 | $36,752 |
| Department of Agriculture | Agricultural Economist | Washington, DC | 12/13/2024 | $117,962 |
| State of Florida | Agriculture and Consumer Protect Spec | Arcadia, FL | 12/04/2024 | $44,000 |
| Federal Reserve Bank | Agricultural Economist | Omaha, NE | 11/28/2024 | $138,200 |
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