Careers
Where Economics Graduates Work
Economics graduates obtain jobs in a very wide range of fields. The top five industries for employment are financial services, banking, IT services, management and insurance.
Economics Majors Are Well Compensated
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York study The Labor Market for Recent College Graduates (February 2023) reports that the median wage for mid-career graduates (ages 35 to 45) in Economics is $100,000, compared with $75,000 across all majors. Only Computer Science ($105,000) and Engineering ($100,000 to $120,000) are higher.
| Major (mid-career, ages 35–45) | Median Wage |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | $105,000 |
| Engineering | $100,000–$120,000 |
| Economics | $100,000 |
| Finance | $100,000 |
| Business Analytics | $99,000 |
| Marketing | $85,000 |
| Accounting | $80,000 |
| Business | $75,000 |
| All majors | $75,000 |
The HEA Group article Which College Majors Pay the Most? links to a detailed dataset of median earnings four years after graduation for 246 majors, based on U.S. Department of Education data (2023). The highest-paid majors are mainly in medical, engineering and computer science disciplines. Among economics and business-related majors, Economics ties Finance for the highest earnings:
| Major (four years after graduation) | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| Economics | $74,000 |
| Finance | $74,000 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $71,000 |
| Accounting | $64,000 |
| Business/Commerce | $61,000 |
| Marketing | $59,000 |
| Business Administration | $58,000 |
Career Services
The department has a full-time career services coordinator who helps students explore careers, find internships and prepare job applications. Visit Career Services
More Resources
- A Career in Economics… It's Much More Than You Think (video, American Economic Association)
- What Can an Economics Degree Do for You? (Peterson's)