Salary distribution
Where Virginia economists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $100,920 and $188,390, with a median of $148,010.
Economists in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 29 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $150,300. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 7 | $100,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 16 | $152,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $158,997 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $220,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Economists in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Economist II | 15 | $152,000 |
| Mercatus Center, Inc. | Emerging Scholar | 2 | $91,682 |
| Sands Capital Management, LLC | Sr. Research Associate | 2 | $113,596 |
| Hampton University | Assistant Professor | 1 | $73,000 |
| Optum Services, Inc. | Director, Health Management | 1 | $159,994 |
| Redfin Corporation | Senior Economist | 1 | $165,000 |
| AMAZON.COM SERVICES LLC | ECONOMIST II | 1 | $154,500 |
| Potomac Economics Ltd. | Associate | 1 | $127,192 |
| Smart Development Institute, Inc. | Economist | 1 | $96,782 |
| Energy Ventures Analysis, Inc. | Director - Energy Markets | 1 | $220,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Economist II at Amazon.com Services LLC$168,100ArlingtonDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-374908
- Assistant Professor at Hampton University$73,000HamptonWage Level IDecided Sep 8, 2025I-200-25241-277636
- Emerging Scholar at Mercatus Center, Inc.$85,000ArlingtonWage Level IDecided Sep 3, 2025I-200-25238-267922
- Director, Health Management at Optum Services, Inc.$159,994ChantillyWage Level IIIDecided Aug 1, 2025I-200-25206-200125
- Economist II at Amazon.com Services LLC$180,600ArlingtonWage Level IIDecided Jul 17, 2025I-200-25191-164533
- Sr Fellow FAHP Adv Study & Philosophy, Politics & Economics at Mercatus Center, Inc.$98,363FairfaxWage Level IIIDecided Jun 12, 2025I-200-25157-059864
- Sr. Research Associate at Sands Capital Management, LLC$127,192ArlingtonWage Level IIDecided Jun 10, 2025I-200-25154-047359
- Research Associate, Stewardship at Sands Capital Management, LLC$100,000ArlingtonWage Level IDecided Jun 4, 2025I-200-25148-024279
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Economists pay by experience level in Virginia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Economists in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 29 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Retail and wholesale leads with a median of $153,250.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 16 | $153,250 |
| Professional services | Mercatus Center, Inc. | 5 | $127,192 |
| Finance and insurance | Sands Capital Management, LLC | 3 | $125,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Smart Development Institute, Inc. | 2 | $111,987 |
| Education | Hampton University | 1 | $73,000 |
| Technology and software | Optum Services, Inc. | 1 | $159,994 |
| Real estate | Redfin Corporation | 1 | $165,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Master's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.5 / 5
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Mathematics
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
- 02
Conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
- 03
Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
- 04
Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
- 05
Teach theories, principles, and methods of economics.
- 06
Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
- 07
Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
- 08
Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+1.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Slower than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Virginia
Metro-level salary data for economists in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Virginia Beach$124,780
- Richmond$118,610
Compare Economists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Economists in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Economists in Virginia is $148,010.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Economists?
- The Virginia median is +24.1% versus the BLS national figure of $119,230.
- What is the salary range for Economists in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $79,100 and the 90th-percentile at $218,880, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Economists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 1.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Economists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Master's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.