Economics Degree in Berkeley, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Berkeley, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$66K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$102K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in Berkeley
Cost of Living
102
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Berkeley, CA Overview
Berkeley, California (pop. 124,321) has 7 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 102 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $961/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Berkeley is approximately $66,300, growing to $102,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$14,312/yr
Private Tuition
$41,049/yr
Room & Board
$17,106/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$11,462/yr
Unemployment
3.9%
Graduation Rate
66%
Economics Salary in Berkeley (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Berkeley's cost of living index of 102 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Berkeley adjustment factor: 1.02x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Berkeley
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Berkeley tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,312 | Private avg: $41,049
Berkeley avg aid: $11,462/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,672
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$30,600
vs HS diploma in Berkeley
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Berkeley
$741,328
Lifetime earnings premium ($867,000) minus total education cost ($125,672)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Berkeley
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Berkeley for Economics
UC Berkeley
public
$14,312/yr
$57,248 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Berkeley City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Berkeley
Berkeley offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Berkeley Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$92K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$91K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$84K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$74K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$77K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$73K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$75K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$86K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other Business Majors in Berkeley
Business Analytics
$80K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$71K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$51K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$51K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$51K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$63K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$51K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$59K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Berkeley — 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 Berkeley.