Economics Degree in Salt Lake City, UT — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Salt Lake City, UT. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$112K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.2 yrs
in Salt Lake City
Cost of Living
112
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Salt Lake City, UT Overview
While Salt Lake City has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Economics students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $17,800/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Salt Lake City is approximately $72,800, growing to $112,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$9,222/yr
Private Tuition
$38,396/yr
Room & Board
$17,800/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,636/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
52%
Economics Salary in Salt Lake City (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Salt Lake City's cost of living index of 112 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Salt Lake City adjustment factor: 1.12x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Salt Lake City
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Salt Lake City tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,222 | Private avg: $38,396
Salt Lake City avg aid: $10,636/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,088
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$33,600
vs HS diploma in Salt Lake City
ROI Payback Period
3.2 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Salt Lake City
$843,912
Lifetime earnings premium ($952,000) minus total education cost ($108,088)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Salt Lake City
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Salt Lake City for Economics
University of Utah
public
$9,222/yr
$36,888 total
Westminster University
private
$38,396/yr
$153,584 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Salt Lake Community College
$4,116/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Salt Lake City Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Utah Cities
West Valley City, UT
$64K starting · COL 98.5
6 colleges
West Jordan, UT
$65K starting · COL 99.8
5 colleges
Provo, UT
$85K starting · COL 130
7 colleges
Orem, UT
$79K starting · COL 122
4 colleges
Sandy, UT
$67K starting · COL 103.8
4 colleges
St. George, UT
$81K starting · COL 125
2 colleges
Ogden, UT
$67K starting · COL 103
5 colleges
Layton, UT
$64K starting · COL 97.8
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Salt Lake City
Business Analytics
$87K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$78K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$56K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$69K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$56K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$65K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Salt Lake City — 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 Salt Lake City.