US
Philadelphia, PA
Pennsylvania salary market
$131K
Avg / Year
+13% vs U.S.
vs National
230
Employment
$10.9K
Monthly Avg
Updated for 2026

Economist Salary in Philadelphia, PA (2026)

The Economist salary in Philadelphia, PA for 2026 is presented as a modeled salary benchmark built from the latest official BLS wage baseline, then extended with wage trend history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available. This guide compares the Philadelphia, PA market with the U.S. baseline and breaks projected pay down by experience, skills, industry, and nearby markets.

Official BLS baseline: 2024Philadelphia, PA city pageModeled salary guide10 min read
City Average
$131K
per year
Entry Level
$70.8K
starting range
Senior Level
$154K
upper local band
Remote / Hybrid
$133K
modeled local premium
Monthly
$10.9K
avg before tax
Hourly Rate
$59
median equivalent
Salary figures projected to 2026  from May 2024BLS OEWS baseline  ·  Projections use wage history, employment outlook, and tech-market signals where available
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Economist Salary Overview in Philadelphia, PA

Careerclev's modeled 2026 benchmark places Economist pay in Philadelphia, PA at about $130,696 per year. On the latest official BLS baseline for this market, the lower local range starts near $65,980.0, while the strongest-paid professionals can reach about $200,000.

Salary estimates are based on data from the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa-NJ-De-Md metropolitan area, which includes nearby cities such as Camden, and Wilmington.

If you’re comparing Economist salaries in Philadelphia, PA, the real story isn’t just the headline number. Local employer mix, seniority, specialization, and whether the role is remote, hybrid, or onsite can push compensation well above or below the local median.

Philadelphia, PA vs. U.S. National Average

Philadelphia, PA pays +13% vs u.s. for Economist roles. The difference is driven by local employer demand, industry mix, cost pressures, and how concentrated this role is in the underlying metro labor market.

United States National Average
$115K
all U.S. markets combined
+13%
Philadelphia, PA Premium
Philadelphia, PA City Average
$131K
Economist
MarketProjected Salaryvs Philadelphia, PAMarket Maturity
Philadelphia, PA (this guide)$130,696BaselineLocal market
United States$115,440-12% vs U.S.National baseline
Pittsburgh, PA$116,880-11% vs U.S.Comparable city
Harrisburg, PA$80,600.0-38% vs U.S.Comparable city
Pittsburgh, PA$120,240-8% vs U.S.Comparable city
Why Philadelphia, PA pay differsThe strongest city salary premiums usually appear where employers compete for specialized talent, where the role is concentrated, and where local costs make compensation harder to hold down.

Economist Salary by Experience Level in Philadelphia, PA

Experience changes the local salary picture quickly because employers usually pay for independence, specialization, and broader scope, not just years on paper. In Philadelphia, PA, this breakdown shows how aEconomist can move from early-career pay into stronger bands as the role becomes more self-directed.

Entry-Level
0-2 years
$102K
$63/hr median equivalent
$70.8K - $131K
Mid-Level
3-5 years
$131K
$63/hr median equivalent
$102K - $154K
Senior
6-10 years
$154K
$63/hr median equivalent
$131K - $215K
Lead / Principal
10+ years
$215K
$63/hr median equivalent
$154K - $262K
LevelExperienceProjected SalaryProjected RangeMarket Signal
Entry-Level Economist0-2 years$101,943$70,787.0 - $130,696-12% vs U.S.
Mid-Level Economist3-5 years$130,696$101,943 - $153,741+13% vs U.S.
Senior Economist6-10 years$153,741$130,696 - $214,572+33% vs U.S.
Lead / Principal Economist10+ years$214,572$153,741 - $261,778+86% vs U.S.
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Best Salary Areas Near Philadelphia, PA

Nearby metro areas help show how Economist pay changes around Philadelphia, PA. Each market reflects its own employer mix, local demand, and industry concentration, making these comparisons useful for candidates weighing their location options.

#1
Philadelphia, PA
$131K
avg / year
Salary estimates are based on data from the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, Pa-NJ-De-Md metropolitan area, which includes nearby cities such as Camden, and Wilmington.
This guide
#2
Pittsburgh, PA
$117K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Economist salaries around Philadelphia, PA.
-11% vs U.S.
#3
Harrisburg, PA
$80.6K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Economist salaries around Philadelphia, PA.
-38% vs U.S.
#4
Pittsburgh, PA
$120K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Economist salaries around Philadelphia, PA.
-8% vs U.S.
#5
Harrisburg, PA
$75.1K
avg / year
Nearby labor market benchmark for comparing Economist salaries around Philadelphia, PA.
-43% vs U.S.

Economist Salary by Industry in Philadelphia, PA

Industry premiums in Philadelphia, PA usually come from employers that place the Economist role close to revenue, infrastructure, compliance, product delivery, or other high-value work. National industry data gives the best available benchmark until local industry slices are available.

IndustryModeled SalaryReference RangeSignal
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction$222,980$127,020 - N/AStronger salary
Finance and Insurance$165,960$78,020.0 - N/AStronger salary
Transportation and Warehousing$141,190$65,500.0 - $161,570Stronger salary
Manufacturing$135,180$62,990.0 - $221,950Competitive
Management of Companies and Enterprises$135,100$103,100 - $222,120Competitive
Utilities$130,400$96,290.0 - $231,870Competitive
Wholesale Trade$121,530$93,810.0 - N/ACompetitive
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services$113,300$66,560.0 - $225,840Competitive

Entry-Level Economist Salary in Philadelphia, PA

Entry-level Economist jobs in Philadelphia, PA are modeled around the lower local wage percentiles. Candidates who can show practical projects, job-ready tools, and strong fundamentals usually have a better path into the middle of the local salary range.

For a broader starting-pay benchmark beyond this city market, see the entry-level Economist salary guide.

Entry estimateA reasonable entry-level salary benchmark for Economist roles in Philadelphia, PA is about $101,943.
Preparation pathJob Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Typical education: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Training signal: Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Remote vs Onsite Economist Pay in Philadelphia, PA

Remote work can widen the employer pool for Economist candidates in Philadelphia, PA. Onsite and hybrid roles may still pay more when employers need local availability, local clients, regulated work, or team coverage.

Local Onsite Role
$130,696
avg local employer
Hybrid Role
$133,310
modeled local premium
+2% local avg
Work TypeEstimated SalaryExperienceBest FitFlexibility
Remote$128,082Market dependentNational hiring poolsHigh
Hybrid$133,310Metro dependentPhiladelphia, PA employersMedium
Onsite$130,696Location dependentLocal teams and operationsLower

Cost of Living vs Salary in Philadelphia, PA

A salary in Philadelphia, PA should be read alongside housing, commuting, tax, and everyday costs. The same annual pay can feel very different at entry, mid-level, and senior levels.

Monthly Expense
Entry
Mid
Senior
Housing / rent
$1.7K
$2.4K
$3.0K
Transport / commute
$381.2
$435.7
$490.1
Food and groceries
$816.8
$871.3
$980.2
Utilities and internet
$381.2
$435.7
$490.1
Estimated remainder
$3.7K
$5.7K
$7.0K
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Top Employers Hiring Economists in Philadelphia, PA

Employer mix is one of the biggest city-level salary drivers. The industries below highlight where Economist pay tends to be strongest in Philadelphia, PA, based on the sectors that create the most hiring demand for this role.

1
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction employers
$223K
Industry benchmark for Economist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
2
Finance and Insurance employers
$166K
Industry benchmark for Economist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
3
Transportation and Warehousing employers
$141K
Industry benchmark for Economist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
4
Manufacturing employers
$135K
Industry benchmark for Economist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
5
Management of Companies and Enterprises employers
$135K
Industry benchmark for Economist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.
6
Utilities employers
$130K
Industry benchmark for Economist roles where local employer demand can lift salaries.

Philadelphia, PA Compared With Other U.S. Cities

This comparison is useful when one city salary number is not enough on its own. It shows whetherPhiladelphia, PA is genuinely a stronger-paying market for Economist work or whether the local benchmark sits closer to the broader national middle.

Philadelphia, PA
This guide
$131K
Baseline
Pittsburgh, PA
Nearby U.S. market
$117K
-11% vs U.S.
Harrisburg, PA
Nearby U.S. market
$80.6K
-38% vs U.S.
Pittsburgh, PA
Nearby U.S. market
$120K
-8% vs U.S.
Harrisburg, PA
Nearby U.S. market
$75.1K
-43% vs U.S.
Pittsburgh, PA
Nearby U.S. market
$100K
-23% vs U.S.
Harrisburg, PA
Nearby U.S. market
$81.7K
-38% vs U.S.

Career Growth Opportunities in Philadelphia, PA

Local career growth is strongest when it is read through both the city salary ladder and the broader national demand outlook. The city salary benchmark shows what this market currently pays, while the career path and BLS demand data show how that benchmark can expand with scope and responsibility.

1
Intern / Trainee
$67.0K - $90.0K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
2
Junior
$83.1K - $110K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
3
Mid Level
$104K - $129K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
4
Senior
$125K - $162K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
5
Lead
$148K - $187K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
6
Principal / Architect
$173K - $237K
Progression at this step usually reflects broader ownership, stronger specialization, and higher-value outcomes.
BLS Demand SignalEmployment is projected to change by 1.2% from 2024 to 2034.
About averageAnnual openings: 0.9 thousand.
Metric2026 Outlook
Projected employment17.6k → 17.8k
Typical educationMost of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Related experienceExtensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Local market anchor230 jobs with a median of $130,696

Factors Affecting Economist Salary in Philadelphia, PA

Local pay rarely moves for one reason alone. In city markets, the biggest differences usually come from employer concentration, industry mix, seniority, and whether the role is tied to business-critical work that is harder to staff.

Years of Experience
Salary usually rises as the role moves from entry-level execution to independent ownership, mentoring, and broader decision-making.
Location and Cost of Living
Local salary ranges vary by labor market, employer density, and household-income context.
Industry
Industry pay can vary when employers in higher-margin or harder-to-staff sectors compete for the same occupation.
Specialized Skills
O*NET marks high-demand role-specific skills as relevant skills for this role, making them useful anchors for specialization and salary-growth content.

How to Increase Your Economist Salary in Philadelphia, PA

In city markets, salary growth often comes from better positioning as much as from patience. These moves are most useful when you already understand the local benchmark and want a clearer path beyond it.

1
Benchmark against stronger markets
Compare national, metro, and industry salary facts before negotiating so your target range is grounded in current wage data.
1-3 months timeline
2
Build a visible specialization
Prioritize skills such as high-demand role-specific skills; O*NET relevance scores make these good first candidates for portfolio and resume positioning.
3-9 months timeline
3
Target higher-paying industries
Use industry salary facts to identify sectors that already pay above the occupation baseline.
2-6 months timeline
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Economist Salary in Philadelphia, PA: FAQs

These questions usually come up after readers compare the city benchmark, the statewide picture, and the local experience ladder. They help clarify how to read the market and what matters most when you compare this city with other options.

These FAQs focus on how readers searching for "Economist" usually compare local pay, employer mix, and market differences in this city.

What is the average Economist in Philadelphia, PAs salary?
The latest national baseline for Economists is about $115,400 per year, based on the current BLS-derived salary facts in CareerClev.
What is the entry-level Economist in Philadelphia, PAs salary?
Entry-level estimates for Economists are modeled around the lower BLS percentile range, currently about $62,300 per year nationally.
How much can senior Economist in Philadelphia, PAs professionals earn?
Senior Economists estimates are modeled from upper percentile wage bands and currently sit around $166,000 per year nationally.
Does location affect Economist in Philadelphia, PAs salary?
Yes. CareerClev stores salary facts by national, state, and metro locations, so location-specific pages should use the closest available geography instead of a single national number.
Which skills matter for Economist in Philadelphia, PAs salary growth?
CareerClev uses O*NET skill importance and level scores to identify role-relevant skills. These are useful for recommendations, but should not be presented as measured salary premiums unless enriched compensation data exists.
Data
Data Sources & MethodologyUpdated using 2024 BLS OEWS salary facts, O*NET occupation-skill data, Census location context where available, ILOSTAT country benchmarks where mapped, BLS Employment Projections where imported, and Stack Overflow Developer Survey enrichment for mapped tech roles.
Salary figures use BLS OEWS wage facts for 2024. City pages use the BLS metropolitan area as the salary dataset, display the largest city as the public page name, and model experience bands from local wage percentiles.
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