Economists

Economists are concerned with how society uses resources such as land, labor, raw materials, and machinery to produce goods and services for consumption and production in the present and future. Economists study how economic systems address three basic questions: "What shall we produce?" "How shall we produce it?" and "For whom shall we produce it?" The economist then compiles, processes, and interprets the answers to these questions. There are about 21,000 economists employed in the United States.

Salary Range

$50,000 to $100,000+

Minimum Education Level

Master's Degree

Certification/License

None

Outlook

Faster than the Average

Personality Traits

Curious

Organized

Realistic

Career Ladder

Professor, or Manager, or Project Head

Experienced Economist

Entry-Level Economist