Economists pay range in Los Angeles
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,880 a year or less, while the top 10% make $257,000 or more. The middle half of economists in Los Angeles earn between $108,730 and $183,890.
- $85K10th
- $109K25th
- $152KMedian
- $184K75th
- $257K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $155,860 | $12,988 | $74.93 |
| Median | $151,510 | $12,626 | $72.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $108,730 | $9,061 | $52.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $183,890 | $15,324 | $88.41 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Economists pay in Los Angeles vs. California and the U.S.
Economists in Los Angeles earn 17% more than the California average ($133,680) and 10% more than the U.S. average ($142,130). At the median the gap is +21% against the U.S. median of $124,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | $155,860 | $151,510 | $84,880 | $257,000 | 200 |
| California | $133,680 | $119,410 | $74,030 | $207,380 | 860 |
| United States | $142,130 | $124,720 | $67,360 | $238,060 | 17,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Economists salary after taxes in Los Angeles
On the average salary of $155,860, a single filer in Los Angeles takes home about $107,393 a year, or $8,949 a month and $4,131 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Los Angeles a good place for economists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Los Angeles area are 14% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 113.6), so the average $155,860 buys what about $137,242 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Los Angeles ($55,850). A typical home costs $968,608, or 6.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Economists salary in other California cities
Los Angeles ranks 1st of 5 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Los Angeles$155,860
- Riverside$145,870
- San Francisco$145,630
- San Diego$145,410
- Sacramento$101,690
Highest-paying cities for economists
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($184,860).
- New York, NY$184,860
- Washington, DC$166,140
- Durham, NC$159,310
- St. Louis, MO$156,690
- Los Angeles, CA$155,860
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Economists salary in Los Angeles: questions
How much do economists make an hour in Los Angeles?
$74.93 an hour on average, and $72.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level economists salary in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,880 a year and the 25th percentile is $108,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the economists take-home pay in Los Angeles?
About $107,393 a year ($8,949 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $155,860. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do economists earn more in Los Angeles than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% more than the U.S. average for this job ($142,130).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3011; area Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA (31080). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.28, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.28).
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