SOC 19-3011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Economists — Washington
Washington · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Economists in Washington is $109,300 per year, 12.4% below the national median of $124,720.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Economists in Washington is $109,300 per year, 12.4% below the national median of $124,720. Pay ranges from under $80,320 at the tenth percentile to more than $167,960 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $91,060 to $135,350.
Employment stands at 450, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 40 states with published data for this occupation, Washington ranks 21st by median wage. Seattle leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $126,420. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 132nd of 757 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $80,320 | −35.6% |
| 25th | $91,060 | −27.0% |
| Median (50th) | $109,300 | −12.4% |
| 75th | $135,350 | +8.5% |
| 90th | $167,960 | +34.7% |
| Mean | $120,550 | −3.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Washington
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $109,300 buys what $102,150 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 18.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$109,300as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$102,150US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $109,300 a year, 12.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $80,320 to $167,960 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 450 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 21st of 40 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Seattle, at $126,420.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Economists in Washington?
The median annual wage is $109,300, or $52.55 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 Washington is 12.4% 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 Washington earns more than $167,960 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $80,320 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 Seattle, at $126,420 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 450 jobs in this occupation in Washington. 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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