Quick answer: The Washington metro employs about 4,570 economists (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through prospective employers on the credential they expect.
Compare economics programs enrolling now:
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. 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.
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 3 schools
within 4 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
3 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.
Economists in the Washington area earn a median $156,750 per year, above the national median of $124,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Economics Pay in Washington, DC
Metric
Washington metro
District of Columbia
National
Median annual wage
$156,750
$167,590
$124,720
10th percentile
$93,440
$98,350
$67,360
25th percentile
$115,830
$115,910
$89,330
75th percentile
$195,190
$224,080
$174,720
90th percentile
$259,290
$299,110
$238,060
Employment
4,570
3,000
17,790
Location quotient
12.74
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Washington median of $156,750 is above the national median of $124,720, and below the District of Columbia statewide median of $167,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 12.74 means economists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Economist roles concentrate where large institutions do - government agencies, universities, banks and consultancies - so state capitals and financial centers carry most of the market.
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 Washington?
The median annual wage for economists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $156,750, above the national median of $124,720 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many economists work in the Washington area?
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area employs about 4,570 economists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do economists in Washington need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. 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. Confirm current requirements with prospective employers on the credential they expect.
Can I study economics online from Washington?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies prospective employers on the credential they expect.
Is Washington a better market than the rest of District of Columbia?
The Washington metro median is $156,750 against a statewide median of $167,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
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/.
