Economics Degree in Phoenix, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Phoenix, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$99K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$152K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.4 yrs
in Phoenix
Cost of Living
152
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Phoenix, AZ Overview
Phoenix is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 72 institutions and a student population of 118,169. Public tuition averages $12,467/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 Phoenix is approximately $98,800, growing to $152,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
72
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$22,100/yr
Room & Board
$14,782/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,630/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
53%
Economics Salary in Phoenix (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Phoenix's cost of living index of 152 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Phoenix adjustment factor: 1.52x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Phoenix
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Phoenix tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $22,100
Phoenix avg aid: $8,630/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,996
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$45,600
vs HS diploma in Phoenix
ROI Payback Period
2.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Phoenix
$1,183,004
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,292,000) minus total education cost ($108,996)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Phoenix
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Phoenix for Economics
Arizona State University
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
Grand Canyon University
private
$17,800/yr
$71,200 total
University of Advancing Technology
private
$26,400/yr
$105,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Maricopa Community Colleges
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Phoenix
Phoenix offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Phoenix Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Arizona Cities
Tucson, AZ
$75K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$72K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$81K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$77K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$68K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$82K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$67K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$73K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other Business Majors in Phoenix
Business Analytics
$119K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$106K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$76K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$76K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$76K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$94K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$76K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$88K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Phoenix — 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 Phoenix.