SOC 19-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Economists — Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Economists in Pennsylvania is $115,000 per year, close to the national median of $124,720 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Economists in Pennsylvania is $115,000 per year, close to the national median of $124,720 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $64,500 at the tenth percentile to more than $164,650 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $81,470 to $138,010.
The area has 560 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Among the 40 states with published data for this occupation, Pennsylvania ranks 19th by median wage. Philadelphia leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $139,530. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 69th of 778 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,500 | −48.3% |
| 25th | $81,470 | −34.7% |
| Median (50th) | $115,000 | −7.8% |
| 75th | $138,010 | +10.7% |
| 90th | $164,650 | +32.0% |
| Mean | $117,370 | −5.9% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Pennsylvania
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | $139,530 | 220 | |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | $122,980 | 90 | |
| 3 | Harrisburg | $80,010 | 170 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Pennsylvania run 2.4% below the national average, so the median of $115,000 goes as far as $117,828 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 5.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$115,000as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.6US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$117,828US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $115,000 a year, 7.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,500 to $164,650 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 560 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 19th of 40 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Philadelphia, at $139,530.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Economists in Pennsylvania?
The median annual wage is $115,000, or $55.29 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $124,720, so pay in Pennsylvania is 7.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Pennsylvania earns more than $164,650 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,500 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Philadelphia, at $139,530 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 560 jobs in this occupation in Pennsylvania. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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