Economist salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 86 certified H-1B filings in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Culver City, El Segundo, Irvine, Beverly Hills, Diamond Bar.
Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $92,500 |
| 25th | $109,291 |
| 50th (median) | $143,806 |
| 75th | $180,000 |
| 90th | $220,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $110,170 | $84,740 | $136,250 | 28 |
| FY2021 | $126,246 | $81,875 | $160,352 | 28 |
| FY2022 | $132,434 | $87,875 | $164,288 | 28 |
| FY2023 | $150,000 | $120,250 | $180,000 | 29 |
| FY2024 | $147,000 | $98,388 | $180,000 | 29 |
| FY2025 | $120,000 | $99,399 | $175,000 | 47 |
| FY2026 | $160,784 | $124,300 | $180,000 | 39 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median Economist salary of $143,806 is worth about $126,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Economists in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $151,510 in May 2025 (200 employed). The H-1B median here is $143,806, 5% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis Group | $110,000 | 19 |
| Cornerstone Research | $160,000 | 13 |
| The University of Southern California | too few | 8 |
| Amazon | too few | 6 |
| Compass Lexecon | too few | 4 |
| University of California, Los Angeles | too few | 4 |
| CRA International | too few | 2 |
| FedEx | too few | 2 |
| TerraCotta Fund Manager | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $95,000 | 29 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $160,000 | 26 |
| Senior · Level III | $143,806 | 18 |
| Expert · Level IV | $190,000 | 12 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $68,328 | $95,000 | 29 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $99,154 | $160,000 | 26 |
| Senior · Level III | $129,958 | $143,806 | 18 |
| Expert · Level IV | $160,784 | $190,000 | 12 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.