Economics Degree in Los Angeles, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Los Angeles, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$92K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$141K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3 yrs
in Los Angeles
Cost of Living
141
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Los Angeles, CA Overview
Los Angeles is one of California's top college towns, with 69 institutions and a student population of 322,771. Public tuition averages $13,804/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 Los Angeles is approximately $91,650, growing to $141,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
69
Public Tuition
$13,804/yr
Private Tuition
$59,151/yr
Room & Board
$17,998/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,255/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Economics Salary in Los Angeles (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Los Angeles's cost of living index of 141 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Los Angeles adjustment factor: 1.41x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Los Angeles
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Los Angeles tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,804 | Private avg: $59,151
Los Angeles avg aid: $8,255/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$127,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$42,300
vs HS diploma in Los Angeles
ROI Payback Period
3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Los Angeles
$1,071,292
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,198,500) minus total education cost ($127,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Los Angeles
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Los Angeles for Economics
UCLA
public
$13,804/yr
$55,216 total
USC
private
$63,468/yr
$253,872 total
Loyola Marymount University
private
$54,834/yr
$219,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Los Angeles City College
$1,540/yr
Santa Monica College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Los Angeles Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby California Cities
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
Bakersfield, CA
$87K starting · COL 134
18 colleges
Other Business Majors in Los Angeles
Business Analytics
$110K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$99K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$71K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$71K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$71K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$87K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$71K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$82K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Los Angeles — 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 Los Angeles.