19 Top Economics Degree Jobs

Economics graduates learn to analyze incentives, markets, policy, risk, and the allocation of limited resources. They may also develop skills in statistics, econometrics, data visualization, research design, and written communication. This combination supports careers far beyond the job title “economist.”

The 19 roles below use May 2024 median annual wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). A median is not an entry-level salary: half of workers in the occupation earned more and half earned less. Pay varies by location, industry, experience, education, credentials, and performance.

1. Economist

2024 median annual pay: $115,440

Economists research issues such as inflation, employment, trade, competition, consumer behavior, and public policy. They collect data, build models, interpret results, prepare forecasts, and explain findings to government officials or business leaders.

Economists typically need at least a master's degree, although some government entry roles accept a bachelor's degree with sufficient economics, statistics, and mathematics coursework. A Ph.D. may be necessary for advanced research or academic work. BLS occupation profile

2. Actuary

2024 median annual pay: $125,770

Actuaries use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to estimate the cost of risk and uncertainty. They commonly work in insurance, consulting, government, and enterprise risk management, analyzing events such as illness, accidents, natural disasters, or retirement.

A bachelor's degree can provide entry, but candidates must pass a series of professional examinations. Economics students can prepare by adding probability, statistics, calculus, finance, programming, and actuarial coursework. 

3. Data scientist

2024 median annual pay: $112,590

Data scientists use analytical tools to extract useful insights from large or complex datasets. They clean data, build models, evaluate performance, visualize results, and work with stakeholders to translate business questions into measurable analyses.

Economics graduates with econometrics, programming, database, and machine-learning experience can be competitive. A strong portfolio should show the question, method, limitations, and practical implication—not just code. 

4. Statistician

2024 median annual pay for mathematicians and statisticians: $104,350

Statisticians design surveys or experiments, select analytical methods, build models, and interpret uncertainty. They work in government, health care, research, technology, manufacturing, and other fields.

BLS identifies a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for mathematicians and statisticians, although some positions are available with a bachelor's degree. Advanced probability, statistical computing, and research experience can strengthen preparation. 

5. Personal financial advisor

2024 median annual pay: $102,140

Personal financial advisors help clients evaluate goals involving saving, investing, insurance, taxes, retirement, and major purchases. They gather financial information, explain options, recommend strategies, and maintain client relationships.

A bachelor's degree is typical. Depending on the products and services provided, advisors may need securities registrations, insurance licenses, or professional credentials. Compensation can include salary, fees, commissions, or a combination. 

6. Financial analyst

2024 median annual pay: $101,910

Financial analysts evaluate companies, industries, investments, and financial decisions. They may build forecasts, analyze statements, assess risk, compare opportunities, and present recommendations. Roles include financial and investment analysts as well as financial risk specialists.

Economics provides a useful foundation in markets and quantitative analysis. Employers may also value accounting, valuation, spreadsheet modeling, data tools, and industry knowledge. 

7. Management analyst

2024 median annual pay: $101,190

Management analysts, often called management consultants, recommend ways to improve an organization's efficiency. They interview staff, analyze financial and operational data, identify problems, compare solutions, and help implement change.

A bachelor's degree is typical, but employers often seek relevant industry or functional experience. Economics graduates can emphasize problem structuring, cost-benefit analysis, research, presentation, and stakeholder communication.

8. Project management specialist

2024 median annual pay: $100,750

Project management specialists coordinate budgets, schedules, staffing, risks, documentation, and communication for a defined initiative. They help teams translate objectives into deliverables and monitor progress against scope, time, and cost expectations.

Economics graduates can apply forecasting, resource allocation, and quantitative decision-making skills. Internships and experience coordinating cross-functional work may be as important as classroom knowledge.

9. Labor relations specialist

2024 median annual pay: $93,500

Labor relations specialists interpret labor contracts, address employee-management disputes, support negotiations, and advise on grievance or disciplinary procedures. They may work for corporations, government agencies, labor organizations, or consulting firms.

Economics coursework in labor markets can provide relevant context, while employment law, negotiation, writing, and human resources experience strengthen preparation. Some roles prefer prior work in HR or collective bargaining. 

10. Operations research analyst

2024 median annual pay: $91,290

Operations research analysts use mathematics and logic to solve complex organizational problems. They model systems, compare scenarios, optimize resources, and help leaders make decisions about pricing, logistics, scheduling, inventory, or capacity.

A bachelor's degree is typical, though advanced roles may prefer graduate education. Useful skills include statistics, optimization, programming, simulation, and explaining models to nontechnical decision-makers.

11. Financial examiner

2024 median annual pay: $90,400

Financial examiners monitor organizations that handle money and determine whether they comply with applicable laws. They review balance sheets, lending practices, risk controls, and management procedures and may recommend corrective actions.

A bachelor's degree with accounting coursework is typical, followed by extensive on-the-job training. Economics majors may need to add accounting, financial regulation, and audit-related classes. 

12. Budget analyst

2024 median annual pay: $87,930

Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances. They review proposals, assess costs, consolidate budgets, monitor spending, and explain tradeoffs to managers or officials.

Economics graduates can apply forecasting, public finance, spreadsheet, and communication skills. Government roles may require familiarity with appropriations, grants, or agency-specific budget processes. 

13. Urban and regional planner

2024 median annual pay: $83,720

Urban and regional planners develop plans for land use, transportation, housing, infrastructure, and community development. They analyze demographic, environmental, market, and geographic data and work with officials, developers, and residents.

A master's degree in planning is typically required, although requirements vary. Economics can be a strong undergraduate background, especially when combined with public policy, geographic information systems, and community research. 

14. Accountant or auditor

2024 median annual pay: $81,680

Accountants prepare and examine financial records, while auditors evaluate their accuracy and the effectiveness of related controls. They may specialize in public accounting, corporate reporting, government, tax, internal audit, or risk.

Economics majors may qualify for some positions after completing the required accounting coursework. Becoming a certified public accountant requires meeting jurisdiction-specific education, examination, and experience requirements. 

15. Logistician or supply chain analyst

2024 median annual pay for logisticians: $80,880

Logisticians analyze and coordinate supply chains, including purchasing, inventory, transportation, warehousing, and delivery. A supply chain analyst may focus on demand forecasts, supplier performance, cost, service levels, or network efficiency.

Economics graduates can contribute knowledge of incentives, trade, pricing, and optimization. Employers may seek proficiency in spreadsheets, databases, planning software, and data visualization.

16. Insurance underwriter

2024 median annual pay: $79,880

Insurance underwriters evaluate applications, estimate risk, determine coverage terms, and decide whether to approve a policy. They use automated systems but apply judgment to complex or unusual cases.

A bachelor's degree is typical. Coursework in economics, finance, statistics, and risk can be useful, while industry training and professional designations may support advancement. 

17. Compliance officer

2024 median annual pay: $78,420

Compliance officers help organizations meet legal, regulatory, and internal requirements. They assess risk, review processes, investigate concerns, train employees, maintain documentation, and recommend corrective action.

A bachelor's degree is typical, and employers may prefer experience related to the regulated field. Economics graduates can apply analytical skills in finance, health care, manufacturing, environmental regulation, or government. 

18. Market research analyst

2024 median annual pay: $76,950

Market research analysts study consumers, competitors, prices, and business conditions to estimate demand for a product or service. They design research, analyze data, segment audiences, measure campaigns, and present recommendations.

Economics majors can draw on consumer theory, statistics, causal analysis, and survey methods. Experience with analytics software, visualization, experiments, and concise business writing is valuable. 

19. Loan officer

2024 median annual pay: $74,180

Loan officers evaluate, authorize, or recommend approval of loan applications. They review applicants' financial information, explain products, assess risk, and ensure documentation meets institutional and regulatory requirements.

A bachelor's degree is typical, and mortgage loan officers must meet applicable licensing requirements. Compensation varies widely because some positions include commission.

Skills an economics degree can develop

Economics programs vary, but graduates commonly build:

• Quantitative analysis and statistical reasoning

• Research design and evaluation of evidence

• Economic modeling and forecasting

• Cost-benefit and marginal analysis

• Understanding of markets, incentives, and institutions

• Spreadsheet, statistical software, or programming skills

• Data visualization and written communication

• Ability to explain uncertainty and assumptions

Students should not rely on the degree title alone. Employers usually hire for demonstrable skills, relevant experience, and the ability to solve the problems associated with a specific role.

How to prepare for an economics career

Choose a direction early enough to build evidence

Explore finance, policy, analytics, consulting, research, or operations through introductory projects and internships. You do not need to select a permanent career immediately, but a direction helps you choose relevant electives and experiences.

Strengthen technical skills

Useful tools may include Excel, SQL, R, Python, Stata, SAS, Tableau, Power BI, or GIS. Focus on the tools employers in your target field actually request and build projects that demonstrate how you used them.

Complete an internship or research project

Experience gives you evidence for a resume and helps you test whether you enjoy the work. Consider government agencies, banks, consulting firms, nonprofits, research centers, technology companies, and operations teams.

Build a portfolio

A portfolio might include an economic brief, forecasting model, dashboard, market analysis, policy evaluation, or reproducible research project. Remove confidential information and explain the question, data, method, assumptions, and conclusion.

Identify additional requirements

Actuaries take professional exams, advisors may need registrations or licenses, planners often need graduate education, and economists commonly need a master's degree. Verify requirements before investing in a program or credential.

Tailor your applications

Translate academic language into employer outcomes. Instead of listing “econometrics,” describe how you cleaned data, selected a model, evaluated limitations, and communicated the result.

Dokie can help economics graduates turn coursework, internships, research, and analytical projects into clear application materials. You can use it to structure resume bullets around the question you examined, the method or tool you used, and the result or recommendation you produced.

Dokie can also help tailor a cover letter or presentation to finance, policy, consulting, or analytics roles. Verify every salary, credential, and technical statement, remove confidential data, and keep your own work as the source of truth. Dokie should clarify your experience rather than create qualifications you do not have.

Frequently asked questions

Is an economics degree useful outside finance?

Yes. Economics graduates work in government, technology, consulting, operations, research, health care, energy, nonprofits, and other fields. The value comes from applying analytical and communication skills to a specific domain.

Can I become an economist with a bachelor's degree?

Some entry-level government positions accept a bachelor's degree with sufficient economics, statistics, and mathematics coursework. However, economists typically need at least a master's degree, and advanced research roles may require a Ph.D.

What technical skills are useful for economics majors?

Spreadsheet modeling, statistics, SQL, programming, data visualization, and econometric software are useful in many roles. The best combination depends on whether you target finance, research, policy, consulting, or operations.

Do economics majors need strong math skills?

Most programs require algebra, statistics, and calculus, while quantitative roles may require linear algebra, probability, optimization, and advanced econometrics. Requirements vary by school and career path.

Are the listed salaries entry-level salaries?

No. They are May 2024 national median wages for the full occupation. Entry-level pay is often lower and varies by location, employer, experience, education, and credentials.

Is economics better than finance or accounting?

It depends on your goals. Economics emphasizes markets, incentives, policy, and analytical models. Finance focuses more directly on money, investment, and corporate decisions, while accounting centers on financial recording, reporting, tax, and assurance. Review course requirements and target jobs before choosing.