Economics Degree in Newark, NJ — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Newark, NJ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$88K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$135K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.1 yrs
in Newark
Cost of Living
135
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Newark, NJ Overview
Newark, New Jersey (pop. 311,549) has 14 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 135 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,595/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Newark is approximately $87,750, growing to $135,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
14
Public Tuition
$16,507/yr
Private Tuition
$47,742/yr
Room & Board
$15,130/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,623/yr
Unemployment
3.6%
Graduation Rate
74%
Economics Salary in Newark (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Newark's cost of living index of 135 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Newark adjustment factor: 1.35x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Newark
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Newark tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,507 | Private avg: $47,742
Newark avg aid: $8,623/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$126,548
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$40,500
vs HS diploma in Newark
ROI Payback Period
3.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Newark
$1,020,952
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,147,500) minus total education cost ($126,548)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Newark
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Newark for Economics
Rutgers University-Newark
public
$14,974/yr
$59,896 total
New Jersey Institute of Technology
public
$18,040/yr
$72,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Essex County College
$5,040/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Newark
Newark offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Newark Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby New Jersey Cities
Jersey City, NJ
$83K starting · COL 127
23 colleges
Paterson, NJ
$84K starting · COL 129
5 colleges
Elizabeth, NJ
$75K starting · COL 115.5
6 colleges
Edison, NJ
$77K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Lakewood, NJ
$84K starting · COL 128.8
5 colleges
Woodbridge, NJ
$73K starting · COL 112.5
4 colleges
Toms River, NJ
$77K starting · COL 117.7
4 colleges
Trenton, NJ
$87K starting · COL 134
8 colleges
Other Business Majors in Newark
Business Analytics
$105K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$95K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$68K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$68K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$68K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$84K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$68K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$78K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Newark — 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 Newark.