Jobs Similar to Economists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to economists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Environmental Economists, Financial Quantitative Analysts and Business Intelligence Analysts.
Economists: $124,720 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Economists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Environmental EconomistsSame group | 84% | $124,720Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Financial Quantitative Analysts | 83% | $81,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Business Intelligence Analysts | 83% | $120,230Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Survey ResearchersSame group | 81% | $69,460−44% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Political ScientistsSame group | 80% | $142,080+14% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Actuaries | 80% | $130,000+4% | Bachelor's degree |
| 7 | Statisticians | 79% | $105,650−15% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Management Analysts | 79% | $101,860−18% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Operations Research Analysts | 78% | $88,940−29% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Investment Fund Managers | 77% | $166,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Credit Analysts | 77% | $83,510−33% | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | SociologistsSame group | 77% | $106,030−15% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 77% | $78,760−37% | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Climate Change Policy Analysts | 77% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Financial Examiners | 77% | $94,160−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Biostatisticians | 77% | $105,650Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $123,920−1% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts | 76% | $81,100Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Mathematicians | 75% | $126,710+2% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Data Scientists | 75% | $120,230−4% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Environmental Economists
84% similar · $124,720 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Financial Quantitative Analysts
83% similar · $81,100 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 3Business Intelligence Analysts
83% similar · $120,230 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 4Survey Researchers
81% similar · $69,460 (−44%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Political Scientists
80% similar · $142,080 (+14%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Actuaries
80% similar · $130,000 (+4%) · Bachelor's degree
- 7Statisticians
79% similar · $105,650 (−15%) · Graduate degree
- 8Management Analysts
79% similar · $101,860 (−18%) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Operations Research Analysts
78% similar · $88,940 (−29%) · Graduate degree
- 10Investment Fund Managers
77% similar · $166,570 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 11Credit Analysts
77% similar · $83,510 (−33%) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Sociologists
77% similar · $106,030 (−15%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists
77% similar · $78,760 (−37%) · Bachelor's degree
- 14Climate Change Policy Analysts
77% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 15Financial Examiners
77% similar · $94,160 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree
- 16Biostatisticians
77% similar · $105,650 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $123,920 (−1%) · Graduate degree
- 18Fraud Examiners, Investigators and Analysts
76% similar · $81,100 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 19Mathematicians
75% similar · $126,710 (+2%) · Graduate degree
- 20Data Scientists
75% similar · $120,230 (−4%) · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than economists.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Business Intelligence Analysts83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Actuaries80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Management Analysts79% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Credit Analysts77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Financial Examiners77% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for economists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where economists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like economists
What jobs are most similar to economists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Environmental Economists (84% similar), Financial Quantitative Analysts (83% similar), Business Intelligence Analysts (83% similar), Survey Researchers (81% similar) and Political Scientists (80% similar).
Which jobs like economists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Political Scientists ($142,080, +14%; usually a graduate degree), Actuaries ($130,000, +4%; usually a bachelor's degree) and Mathematicians ($126,710, +2%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with economists ($124,720). Without more preparation than economists usually need: Political Scientists, Actuaries and Mathematicians.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.