Economists Pay Range in Virginia
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$74,600
- 25th Percentile — Junior$93,920
- 50th Percentile — Median$137,590
- 75th Percentile — Senior$179,730
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$232,410
Half of Economists in Virginia earn more than $137,590. The top 10% make $232,410 or more, while entry-level workers start around $74,600.
Economists in Virginia: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Virginia ranks 7th of 40 states for Economists pay, at $144,880 per year (1.9% above the U.S. average of $142,130).
- 950 people work as Economists in Virginia — 5.3% of all U.S. Economists jobs.
- Location quotient 2.01: Economists jobs are more concentrated in Virginia than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $74,600; the top 10% earn over $232,410.
- Hourly equivalent: $69.65 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $175,100.
- Among science jobs in Virginia, Physicists pays the most ($159,320).
Economists Job Market in Virginia
Key factors affecting compensation
Virginia's key industries are Government, Technology, Defense, and its job market is rated very strong. Economists here earn $144,880 on average, placing the state 7th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 1.1 (U.S. = 1.00), a Virginia salary of $144,880 is roughly equivalent to $131,709 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Jersey ($161,990), Kansas ($150,950), Delaware ($149,020) are the closest alternatives for Economists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in Virginia
Related career salary benchmarks
- Physicists $159,320/yr Virginia +10.0% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $127,300/yr Virginia 12.1% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $126,950/yr Virginia 12.4% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $124,880/yr Virginia 13.8% vs this role
- Hydrologists $119,240/yr Virginia 17.7% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $111,970/yr Virginia 22.7% vs this role
- Geoscientists $105,120/yr Virginia 27.4% vs this role
- Chemists $104,120/yr Virginia 28.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Economists salary in Virginia?
The average Economists salary in Virginia is $144,880 per year (median $137,590), which is 1.9% above the national average of $142,130.
How does Virginia rank for Economists pay?
Virginia ranks 7th out of 40 states. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia ($175,100/yr).
How much do entry-level Economists make in Virginia?
The lowest-paid 10% of Economists in Virginia earn about $74,600 per year and the 25th percentile is $93,920.
How much do Economists make per hour in Virginia?
About $69.65 per hour, based on the $144,880 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Economists work in Virginia?
BLS counts 950 Economists jobs in Virginia (OEWS May 2025).
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