Economics Degree in Baltimore, MD — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Baltimore, MD. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$85K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$130K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Baltimore
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Baltimore, MD Overview
Baltimore is one of Maryland's top college towns, with 22 institutions and a student population of 30,415. Public tuition averages $12,096/year here — near the national average for public universities. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Baltimore is approximately $84,500, growing to $130,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
22
Public Tuition
$12,096/yr
Private Tuition
$56,325/yr
Room & Board
$21,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,793/yr
Unemployment
6.3%
Graduation Rate
58%
Economics Salary in Baltimore (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Baltimore's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Baltimore adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Baltimore
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Baltimore tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,096 | Private avg: $56,325
Baltimore avg aid: $8,793/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$135,364
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$39,000
vs HS diploma in Baltimore
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Baltimore
$969,636
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,105,000) minus total education cost ($135,364)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Baltimore
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Baltimore for Economics
Johns Hopkins University
private
$60,480/yr
$241,920 total
University of Maryland, Baltimore County
public
$12,096/yr
$48,384 total
Loyola University Maryland
private
$52,170/yr
$208,680 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Baltimore City Community College
$3,768/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Baltimore
Baltimore offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Baltimore Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Maryland Cities
Columbia, MD
$83K starting · COL 127.2
4 colleges
Silver Spring, MD
$80K starting · COL 122.5
4 colleges
Frederick, MD
$73K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Waldorf, MD
$78K starting · COL 120.7
4 colleges
Ellicott City, MD
$74K starting · COL 114.2
3 colleges
Glen Burnie, MD
$71K starting · COL 108.8
3 colleges
Rockville, MD
$84K starting · COL 128.5
3 colleges
Bethesda, MD
$76K starting · COL 116.7
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Baltimore
Business Analytics
$101K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$91K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$65K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$65K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$65K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$81K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$65K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$75K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Baltimore — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Economics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Baltimore.