Economics Degree in Philadelphia, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Philadelphia, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$98K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$150K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Philadelphia
Cost of Living
150
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Philadelphia, PA Overview
Philadelphia is one of Pennsylvania's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 116,806. Public tuition averages $18,526/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 Philadelphia is approximately $97,500, growing to $150,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$18,526/yr
Private Tuition
$59,845/yr
Room & Board
$19,639/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,866/yr
Unemployment
4.5%
Graduation Rate
52%
Economics Salary in Philadelphia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Philadelphia's cost of living index of 150 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Philadelphia adjustment factor: 1.50x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Philadelphia
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Philadelphia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $18,526 | Private avg: $59,845
Philadelphia avg aid: $10,866/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$152,660
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$45,000
vs HS diploma in Philadelphia
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Philadelphia
$1,122,340
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,275,000) minus total education cost ($152,660)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Philadelphia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Philadelphia for Economics
University of Pennsylvania
private
$63,452/yr
$253,808 total
Temple University
public
$18,526/yr
$74,104 total
Drexel University
private
$56,238/yr
$224,952 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Philadelphia
$6,378/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Philadelphia
Philadelphia offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Philadelphia Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Pittsburgh, PA
$75K starting · COL 115
12 colleges
Allentown, PA
$73K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Reading, PA
$77K starting · COL 118
3 colleges
Erie, PA
$78K starting · COL 120
4 colleges
Upper Darby, PA
$61K starting · COL 94.5
4 colleges
Scranton, PA
$78K starting · COL 120
8 colleges
Bethlehem, PA
$81K starting · COL 125
7 colleges
Lower Merion, PA
$59K starting · COL 91.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Philadelphia
Business Analytics
$117K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$105K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$75K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$75K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$75K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$93K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$75K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$87K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Philadelphia — 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 Philadelphia.