Economics Degree in Seattle, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Seattle, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$78K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$120K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.4 yrs
in Seattle
Cost of Living
120
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Seattle, WA Overview
Seattle, Washington (pop. 737,015) has 16 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 120 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,508/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Seattle is approximately $78,000, growing to $120,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
16
Public Tuition
$12,076/yr
Private Tuition
$49,119/yr
Room & Board
$18,145/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,675/yr
Unemployment
3.1%
Graduation Rate
68%
Economics Salary in Seattle (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Seattle's cost of living index of 120 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Seattle adjustment factor: 1.20x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Seattle
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Seattle tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,076 | Private avg: $49,119
Seattle avg aid: $10,675/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$120,884
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$36,000
vs HS diploma in Seattle
ROI Payback Period
3.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Seattle
$899,116
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,020,000) minus total education cost ($120,884)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Seattle
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Seattle for Economics
University of Washington
public
$12,076/yr
$48,304 total
Seattle University
private
$51,435/yr
$205,740 total
Seattle Pacific University
private
$46,803/yr
$187,212 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Seattle Central College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Seattle
Seattle offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Seattle Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Washington Cities
Spokane, WA
$79K starting · COL 121
20 colleges
Tacoma, WA
$73K starting · COL 113
25 colleges
Vancouver, WA
$71K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
Bellevue, WA
$116K starting · COL 178.5
6 colleges
Kent, WA
$75K starting · COL 115.8
6 colleges
Everett, WA
$77K starting · COL 118.2
5 colleges
Renton, WA
$80K starting · COL 122.5
5 colleges
Spokane Valley, WA
$80K starting · COL 123.1
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Seattle
Business Analytics
$94K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$84K 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
$70K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Seattle — 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 Seattle.