Economics Degree in Spokane, WA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Spokane, WA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$79K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$121K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
2.9 yrs
in Spokane
Cost of Living
121
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Spokane, WA Overview
Spokane, Washington (pop. 228,989) has 20 colleges offering Economics programs. The local cost of living index of 121 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,678/month. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Spokane is approximately $78,650, growing to $121,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
20
Public Tuition
$13,119/yr
Private Tuition
$49,320/yr
Room & Board
$13,236/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,489/yr
Unemployment
4.6%
Graduation Rate
61%
Economics Salary in Spokane (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Spokane's cost of living index of 121 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Spokane adjustment factor: 1.21x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Spokane
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Spokane tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,119 | Private avg: $49,320
Spokane avg aid: $8,489/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,420
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$36,300
vs HS diploma in Spokane
ROI Payback Period
2.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Spokane
$923,080
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,028,500) minus total education cost ($105,420)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Spokane
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Spokane for Economics
Gonzaga University
private
$50,380/yr
$201,520 total
Whitworth University
private
$48,260/yr
$193,040 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Spokane Falls Community College
$4,479/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Spokane
Spokane offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Spokane Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Economics Job Titles
Economics in Nearby Washington Cities
Seattle, WA
$78K starting · COL 120
16 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 Spokane
Business Analytics
$94K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$85K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Information Systems
$61K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$61K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$61K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$75K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$61K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$70K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Spokane — 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 Spokane.