Best cities for an economist
The best cities for economists are Seattle, WA, Washington, DC, and Boston, MA, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for economists vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for economists in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as an economist or considering a move, this list of the best cities for economists to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for economists. We also consider how easy it is to find work as an economist. While the absolute best city for economists is Seattle, WA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for economists in 2024.
If you're looking for an economist job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for economists in 2026
1. Seattle, WA
Total economist jobs: 10 Average annual salary: $112,814 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $166,000 Location quotient: 33.61 2. Washington, DC
Total economist jobs: 158 Average annual salary: $133,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $88,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $203,000 Location quotient: 171.43 3. Boston, MA
Total economist jobs: 159 Average annual salary: $111,342 Lowest 10 percent warn: $71,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $173,000 Location quotient: 23.72 4. New York, NY
Total economist jobs: 155 Average annual salary: $115,626 Lowest 10 percent warn: $75,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $176,000 Location quotient: 21.74 5. Kansas City, MO
Total economist jobs: 41 Average annual salary: $101,510 Lowest 10 percent warn: $66,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $153,000 Location quotient: 20.61 6. Saint Louis, MO
Total economist jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $102,888 Lowest 10 percent warn: $67,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $156,000 Location quotient: 17.38 7. Anchorage, AK
Total economist jobs: 7 Average annual salary: $106,171 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $146,000 Location quotient: 14.75 8. Fort Worth, TX
Total economist jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $93,696 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000 Location quotient: 11.62 9. Oakland, CA
Total economist jobs: 18 Average annual salary: $113,819 Lowest 10 percent warn: $76,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $169,000 Location quotient: 20.09 10. Durham, NC
Total economist jobs: 11 Average annual salary: $94,016 Lowest 10 percent warn: $62,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000 Location quotient: 7.22
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Best cities for economists
- Seattle, WA
- Washington, DC
- Boston, MA
- New York, NY
- Kansas City, MO
- Saint Louis, MO
- Anchorage, AK
- Fort Worth, TX
- Oakland, CA
- Durham, NC
- (10 economist jobs)
- (158 economist jobs)
- (159 economist jobs)
- (155 economist jobs)
- (41 economist jobs)
- (52 economist jobs)
- (7 economist jobs)
- (18 economist jobs)
- (18 economist jobs)
- (11 economist jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for an economist
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $112,814 | $76,000 | 704,352 | 10 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $133,800 | $88,000 | 681,170 | 158 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $111,342 | $71,000 | 673,184 | 159 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $115,626 | $75,000 | 8,537,673 | 155 |
| 5 | Kansas City, MO | $101,510 | $66,000 | 481,420 | 41 |
| 6 | Saint Louis, MO | $102,888 | $67,000 | 311,404 | 52 |
| 7 | Anchorage, AK | $106,171 | $76,000 | 298,192 | 7 |
| 8 | Fort Worth, TX | $93,696 | $62,000 | 854,113 | 18 |
| 9 | Oakland, CA | $113,819 | $76,000 | 420,005 | 18 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $94,016 | $62,000 | 263,016 | 11 |
| 11 | Arlington, TX | $93,556 | $62,000 | 392,772 | 5 |
| 12 | San Francisco, CA | $113,893 | $76,000 | 870,887 | 109 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $98,105 | $64,000 | 2,704,958 | 120 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $116,990 | $77,000 | 638,367 | 6 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $91,272 | $60,000 | 842,051 | 46 |
| 16 | Sacramento, CA | $114,236 | $76,000 | 495,234 | 13 |
| 17 | El Paso, TX | $93,596 | $62,000 | 683,080 | 3 |
| 18 | Plano, TX | $93,812 | $62,000 | 286,057 | 15 |
| 19 | Tulsa, OK | $113,657 | $75,000 | 403,090 | - |
| 20 | Louisville, KY | $98,635 | $64,000 | 597,337 | 2 |
| 21 | Cleveland, OH | $83,742 | $54,000 | 385,809 | 13 |
| 22 | Buffalo, NY | $115,403 | $75,000 | 256,902 | 2 |
| 23 | Raleigh, NC | $93,731 | $61,000 | 458,880 | 10 |
| 24 | Wichita, KS | $101,207 | $66,000 | 389,902 | - |
| 25 | Albuquerque, NM | $91,329 | $60,000 | 559,277 | 9 |
| 26 | Riverside, CA | $104,955 | $70,000 | 324,722 | 8 |
| 27 | Reno, NV | $99,803 | $67,000 | 245,255 | 1 |
| 28 | Lexington, KY | $98,986 | $65,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 29 | Las Vegas, NV | $95,498 | $63,000 | 632,912 | 7 |
| 30 | Laredo, TX | $81,880 | $54,000 | 257,156 | 7 |
| 31 | Brookhaven, NY | $115,944 | $75,000 | 486,040 | - |
| 32 | Houston, TX | $87,745 | $58,000 | 2,303,482 | 108 |
| 33 | Islip, NY | $115,820 | $75,000 | 335,543 | - |
| 34 | Dallas, TX | $93,528 | $62,000 | 1,317,929 | 21 |
| 35 | Detroit, MI | $87,729 | $57,000 | 672,795 | 12 |
| 36 | Oyster Bay, NY | $115,794 | $75,000 | 293,214 | - |
| 37 | Hempstead, NY | $115,683 | $75,000 | 759,757 | - |
| 38 | Los Angeles, CA | $105,407 | $70,000 | 3,976,322 | 64 |
| 39 | Greensboro, NC | $93,739 | $61,000 | 287,027 | 2 |
| 40 | Austin, TX | $89,513 | $60,000 | 947,890 | 33 |
| 41 | Norfolk, VA | $108,524 | $71,000 | 245,115 | - |
| 42 | Virginia Beach, VA | $108,491 | $71,000 | 452,602 | - |
| 43 | Chesapeake, VA | $108,299 | $71,000 | 237,940 | - |
| 44 | Toledo, OH | $83,369 | $54,000 | 278,508 | 2 |
| 45 | Irvine, CA | $104,487 | $70,000 | 266,122 | 20 |
| 46 | North Las Vegas, NV | $95,531 | $63,000 | 238,702 | - |
| 47 | Lubbock, TX | $95,802 | $63,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 48 | Baltimore, MD | $101,216 | $66,000 | 614,664 | 22 |
| 49 | Henderson, NV | $95,081 | $63,000 | 292,969 | - |
| 50 | Irving, TX | $93,689 | $62,000 | 238,289 | 3 |
Highest paying cities for economists
| Rank | City | Avg. economist salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $133,800 |
| 2 | Harrison, NY | $115,868 |
| 3 | Sacramento, CA | $114,236 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $112,814 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $111,342 |
| 6 | McLean, VA | $110,175 |
| 7 | Kansas City, KS | $103,094 |
| 8 | Saint Louis, MO | $102,888 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $101,216 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $98,105 |
| 11 | Denver, CO | $97,167 |
| 12 | Providence, RI | $96,650 |
| 13 | Stamford, CT | $94,661 |
| 14 | Plano, TX | $93,812 |
| 15 | Charlotte, NC | $91,272 |
| 16 | Portland, OR | $90,534 |
| 17 | Cleveland, OH | $83,742 |
| 18 | Chamblee, GA | $83,684 |
| 19 | Baton Rouge, LA | $81,165 |
| 20 | Philadelphia, PA | $77,822 |
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Updated January 8, 2025