Economist
Explore employment trends, required job duties and skills for this
career. ASU offers a variety of degrees that can help you prepare
for and meet your career goals. Visit
ASU's Career and Professional
Development Services
to learn how to develop your career plan.
Potential job titles in this career
Economic Advisor,
Economic Analyst,
Economic Consultant,
Economic Development Specialist,
Economist,
Forensic Economist,
Project Economist,
Research Economist,
Revenue Research Analyst,
Tax Economist
* Additional schooling, certification, or degrees maybe be required for some of the potential careers that are listed.
Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture.
Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques.
Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
Explain economic impact of policies to the public.
Review documents written by others.
Provide advice and consultation on economic relationships to businesses, public and private agencies, and other employers.
Formulate recommendations, policies, or plans to solve economic problems or to interpret markets.
Supervise research projects and students' study projects.
Conduct research on economic issues, and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
Develop economic guidelines and standards, and prepare points of view used in forecasting trends and formulating economic policy.
In this career, it is important to know
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
Communications and Media - Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Sociology and Anthropology - Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
History and Archeology - Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
It's useful to be good at
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
| Location |
Pay period |
2025 |
| 10% |
25% |
Median% |
75% |
90% |
| United States |
Hourly |
$32.38
|
$42.95
|
$59.96
|
$84.00
|
$114.45
|
| Yearly |
$67,360
|
$89,330
|
$124,720
|
$174,720
|
$238,060
|
| Arizona |
Hourly |
$36.06
|
$38.20
|
$38.28
|
$60.06
|
$66.82
|
| Yearly |
$75,000
|
$79,450
|
$79,610
|
$124,920
|
$138,990
|
| 2025 Median% |
| United States |
$59.96
Hourly
|
$124,720
Yearly
|
| Arizona |
$38.28
Hourly
|
$79,610
Yearly
|
Employment (2024)
17,600
employees
Projected growth (2024 - 2034)
Little or no change
Projected job openings (2024 - 2034)
900
* Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite
the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn
a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for
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for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue
the accelerated master's during the junior year of their
bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about
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how to apply.
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professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two
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with your academic advisor.
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than one college and provide opportunities for students to take
advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon
graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma
conferred by two colleges.
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Students from western states who select this major may be eligible for a
reduced nonresident tuition rate of 150 percent of Arizona resident tuition
plus all applicable fees. See more information and eligibility requirements on
the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program
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A minor is an approved, coherent focus of academic study in a single
discipline, other than the student's major, involving substantially fewer
hours of credit than a corresponding major. Certain major and minor
combinations may be deemed inappropriate either by the college or department
of the major or minor.
This is only the first required math course. This program may contain
additional math courses; See Curriculum for details.
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor
of math courses required.
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor
of math courses required. Courses included in the General level: MAT 142
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor
of math courses required. Courses included in the Moderate level: MAT 117, MAT
119, MAT 170, MAT 210, SOS 101, CPI 200
The level of intensity represents a measure of the number and academic rigor
of math courses required. Courses included in the Substantial level: MAT 251,
MAT 265. MAT 266, MAT 267, MAT 270, MAT 271, MAT 272, MAT 274, MAT 275
Students pursuing concurrent degrees earn two distinct degrees and receive two
diplomas. ASU offers students two ways to earn concurrent degrees: by choosing
a predetermined combination or creating their own combination. Predetermined
combinations have a single admissions application and one easy to follow major
map. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your
academic advisor. Either way, concurrent degrees allow students to pursue
their own personal or professional interests.
Concurrent degree programs are specially designed academic programs which
provide high-achieving undergraduate students the opportunity to complete two
distinct but complementary bachelor degrees at the same time. Students must
meet minimum admissions standards for both programs and be accepted
individually by both colleges offering the concurrent program.
Concurrent degree programs are specially designed academic programs which
provide high-achieving graduate students the opportunity to complete two
distinct but complementary graduate degrees at the same time. Students must
meet minimum admissions standards for both programs and be accepted
individually by both colleges offering the concurrent program.
Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for
high-achieving undergraduate students who want the opportunity to share
undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of
their master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum
taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for
high-achieving undergraduate students who want the opportunity to share
undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of
their master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum
taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
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received by Graduate Admissions by the deadline date. Applications that are
incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that
are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
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completed and on a space available basis. An application is complete after all
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The 24-Month STEM OPT Extension is an additional benefit from United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services that allows international students in F-1
status who receive a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in an approved
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opportunity to gain additional off-campus work experience in their field of
study after completion of course studies and Post-OPT. The OPT extension does
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