Entry-level Economist salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 29 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $72,673 |
| 25th | $87,000 |
| 50th (median) | $95,000 |
| 75th | $115,000 |
| 90th | $180,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2021 | $80,000 | $79,000 | $82,500 | 12 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2025 | $92,500 | $78,056 | $93,149 | 15 |
| FY2026 | $115,500 | $95,000 | $180,000 | 14 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median entry-level Economist salary of $95,000 is worth about $83,700 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 $95,000, 37% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Analysis Group | $95,000 | 14 |
| Cornerstone Research | too few | 5 |
| The University of Southern California | 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.