Economics Degree in Pittsburgh, PA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Pittsburgh, PA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$115K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in Pittsburgh
Cost of Living
115
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Pittsburgh, PA Overview
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (pop. 302,971) has 12 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 115 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,285/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Pittsburgh is approximately $74,750, growing to $115,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$19,718/yr
Private Tuition
$61,344/yr
Room & Board
$15,793/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,441/yr
Unemployment
6.9%
Graduation Rate
63%
Economics Salary in Pittsburgh (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Pittsburgh's cost of living index of 115 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Pittsburgh adjustment factor: 1.15x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Pittsburgh
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Pittsburgh tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $19,718 | Private avg: $61,344
Pittsburgh avg aid: $13,441/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$142,044
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$34,500
vs HS diploma in Pittsburgh
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Pittsburgh
$835,456
Lifetime earnings premium ($977,500) minus total education cost ($142,044)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Pittsburgh
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Pittsburgh for Economics
University of Pittsburgh
public
$19,718/yr
$78,872 total
Carnegie Mellon University
private
$61,344/yr
$245,376 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Community College of Allegheny County
$5,070/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Pittsburgh Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Philadelphia, PA
$98K starting · COL 150
42 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 Pittsburgh
Business Analytics
$90K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$81K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$58K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$58K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$58K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$71K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$67K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Pittsburgh — 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 Pittsburgh.