Economics Degree in Riverside, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Riverside, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$77K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$119K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Riverside
Cost of Living
119
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Riverside, CA Overview
Riverside, California (pop. 314,998) has 20 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 119 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,489/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Riverside is approximately $77,350, growing to $119,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$14,169/yr
Private Tuition
$57,035/yr
Room & Board
$17,117/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,701/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
71%
Economics Salary in Riverside (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Riverside's cost of living index of 119 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Riverside adjustment factor: 1.19x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Riverside
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Riverside tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $14,169 | Private avg: $57,035
Riverside avg aid: $13,701/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$125,144
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$35,700
vs HS diploma in Riverside
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Riverside
$886,356
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,011,500) minus total education cost ($125,144)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Riverside
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Riverside for Economics
University of California, Riverside
public
$14,169/yr
$56,676 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Riverside City College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Riverside
Riverside offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Riverside Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$92K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
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
Other Business Majors in Riverside
Business Analytics
$93K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$83K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$60K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$60K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$60K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$74K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$60K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$69K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Riverside — 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 Riverside.