Economists pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $213,980 or more. The middle half of economists in San Francisco earn between $94,660 and $180,390.
- $83K10th
- $95K25th
- $142KMedian
- $180K75th
- $214K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $145,630 | $12,136 | $70.01 |
| Median | $142,400 | $11,867 | $68.46 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $94,660 | $7,888 | $45.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $180,390 | $15,032 | $86.73 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Economists pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Economists in San Francisco earn 9% more than the California average ($133,680) and about the same as the U.S. average ($142,130). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $124,720.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $145,630 | $142,400 | $82,670 | $213,980 | 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 San Francisco
On the average salary of $145,630, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $101,353 a year, or $8,446 a month and $3,898 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% 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 San Francisco a good place for economists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $145,630 buys what about $125,963 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 7.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Economists salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 3rd of 5 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($155,860).
- 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 San Francisco: questions
How much do economists make an hour in San Francisco?
$70.02 an hour on average, and $68.46 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level economists salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $82,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $94,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the economists take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $101,353 a year ($8,446 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $145,630. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do economists earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- 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 0.74, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.74).
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