All About Economists
Economist Definition Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.
Daily Life Of an Economist
- Provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as an expert witness.
- Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
- Conduct research on economic issues and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
- Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- Testify at regulatory or legislative hearings concerning the estimated effects of changes in legislation or public policy and present recommendations based on cost-benefit analyses.
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Economist Skills
Economists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Types of Economist
- Economic Research Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Revenue Research Analyst
- Regional Economist
- Health Researcher
What Kind of Economist Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 21,300 jobs for Economist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.1% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,300 new jobs for Economist by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,600 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Economist are Alabama, Louisiana, and Washington. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, West Virginia, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Economists Salary
Economists make between $58,130 and $182,560 a year.

Economists who work in District of Columbia, Virginia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Economists make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $103,740 |
Alaska | $85,970 |
Arizona | $93,350 |
Arkansas | $75,380 |
California | $124,430 |
Colorado | $104,350 |
Connecticut | $95,450 |
Delaware | $86,850 |
District of Columbia | $134,260 |
Florida | $105,230 |
Georgia | $111,570 |
Hawaii | $98,100 |
Idaho | $61,130 |
Illinois | $108,690 |
Indiana | $84,740 |
Iowa | $87,530 |
Kansas | $72,600 |
Louisiana | $103,070 |
Maryland | $116,870 |
Massachusetts | $117,680 |
Michigan | $90,040 |
Minnesota | $81,720 |
Mississippi | $75,450 |
Missouri | $112,240 |
Montana | $89,980 |
Nebraska | $81,010 |
Nevada | $79,170 |
New Hampshire | $74,570 |
New Jersey | $100,500 |
New Mexico | $87,680 |
New York | $127,520 |
North Carolina | $81,470 |
Ohio | $125,490 |
Oklahoma | $76,500 |
Oregon | $87,420 |
Pennsylvania | $87,630 |
South Carolina | $68,550 |
Tennessee | $83,350 |
Texas | $106,480 |
Utah | $88,280 |
Vermont | $96,620 |
Virginia | $126,080 |
Washington | $95,010 |
West Virginia | $68,430 |
Wisconsin | $80,070 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Economists
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Economists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- MySQL
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- SAS
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- UNIX
- R
- Minitab
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- StataCorp Stata
- Teradata Database
How to Become an Economist
Are there Economists education requirements?

How many years of work experience do I need?

Where do Economists Work?

Below are examples of industries where Economists work:

References:
Image Credit: pixabay via CC0 License
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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