Quick answer: California employs about 860 economists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing runs through prospective employers on the credential they expect. Programs, the careers this degree opens, and what they pay are below.
Compare economics programs enrolling now:
Licensing and Credentials in California
Economics is not a licensed field and no certification is required to work in it. Graduate coursework in econometrics and statistics is what analytical employers typically weight, and the master’s is the working credential for jobs carrying the economist title.
Requirements are set at state level and are amended periodically. Before you enroll in any program, confirm with prospective employers on the credential they expect that the specific program you are considering satisfies the education requirement, and ask what it accepts from any training you have already completed. Get the answer in writing.
Earning the Degree While You Work
Most people reading this already have a job in the field, and the practical question is whether the credential can be earned without leaving it. Programs designed for working adults deliver the academic portion online or in the evening, while any labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience happen in person and locally. Prior college credit, military training, apprenticeship coursework and industry certifications can all shorten the path, so request a written transfer credit evaluation before you commit to any school.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 10 schools
within 104 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
10 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
#1
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
📍
San Luis Obispo, CA
•81.5 miles away•BOC Score
89.2
Economists in California earn a median $119,410 per year, below the national median of $124,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Economics Pay and Employment in California at a Glance
Metric
California
National
Source
Median annual wage
$119,410
$124,720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
10th percentile
$74,030
$67,360
BLS OEWS, May 2025
25th percentile
$91,320
$89,330
BLS OEWS, May 2025
75th percentile
$164,770
$174,720
BLS OEWS, May 2025
90th percentile
$207,380
$238,060
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Employment
860
17,790
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Location quotient
0.41
1.00
BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected change (2024-34)
not published by state
1.2%
BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34
How California Pay Compares to the Rest of the Country
The California median of $119,410 sits below the national median of $124,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Percentiles matter more than the midpoint when you are deciding whether a degree pays for itself: the 10th percentile is roughly where people start, and the 90th is what the top of the local market looks like after years of experience.
A location quotient of 0.41 puts California below the national average, so the occupation is less concentrated here than in the typical state. Expect a thinner local job market and fewer employers to move between (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The measure compares how concentrated the occupation is here against the national average of 1.00.
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Economist roles concentrate where large institutions do - government agencies, universities, banks and consultancies - so state capitals and financial centers carry most of the market.
Economists Wages by Metro Area in California
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), economists wages in California vary by metro area.
Metro Area
Employment
Median Annual Wage
Avg. Annual Wage
Entry Level (10th pctile)
Experienced (90th pctile)
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom
250
$100,410
$101,690
$63,960
$138,150
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
200
$151,510
$155,860
$84,880
$257,000
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
200
$142,400
$145,630
$82,670
$213,980
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad
50
$122,750
$145,410
$87,110
$278,090
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario
40
$117,920
$145,870
$86,310
$264,440
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do economists make in California?
The median annual wage for economists in California is $119,410, below the national median of $124,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle of the range runs from $91,320 at the 25th percentile to $164,770 at the 75th.
How many economists work in California?
California holds about 860 economist jobs (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Nationally the occupation employs 17,790, and BLS projects about 900 openings per year through 2034 (BLS Employment Projections, 2024-34).
Do I need a license to work as a economist in California?
Economics is not a licensed field and no certification is required to work in it. Graduate coursework in econometrics and statistics is what analytical employers typically weight, and the master's is the working credential for jobs carrying the economist title. Requirements are set at the state level and change periodically, so confirm the current rules with prospective employers on the credential they expect before you enroll in any program.
Can I earn an economics bachelor's or master's online while working in California?
Often yes. Programs built for working adults deliver coursework online or in the evenings, though any required labs, clinical hours or supervised field experience are completed in person. Confirm that the program's accreditation satisfies prospective employers on the credential they expect.
What is the highest-paying area of California for economists?
Among California metro areas with published data, Los Angeles reports the highest median at $151,510 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Is California a good state for economists?
On pay, the state median of $119,410 sits below the national $124,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). A location quotient of 0.41 means the occupation is less concentrated here than in the average state. Weigh that against cost of living and how concentrated the work is near where you actually want to live.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Economists (SOC 19-3011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
