Economics Degree in Stockton, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Economics degree analysis for Stockton, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$75K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$116K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.6 yrs
in Stockton
Cost of Living
116
index (100 = avg)
Economics in Stockton, CA Overview
Stockton is one of California's top college towns, with 27 institutions and a student population of 20,206. Public tuition averages $11,231/year here — well below the national average, making it a cost-effective choice. Economics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Econometrics and Statistical Analysis. The adjusted starting salary in Stockton is approximately $75,400, growing to $116,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
27
Public Tuition
$11,231/yr
Private Tuition
$52,584/yr
Room & Board
$19,958/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$15,901/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
47%
Economics Salary in Stockton (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Stockton's cost of living index of 116 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Economics salary: $65,000 starting, $100,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Stockton adjustment factor: 1.16x based on the local cost of living index.
Economics ROI Calculator for Stockton
Estimate your return on investment for a Economics degree using local Stockton tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,231 | Private avg: $52,584
Stockton avg aid: $15,901/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$124,756
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$34,800
vs HS diploma in Stockton
ROI Payback Period
3.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Stockton
$861,244
Lifetime earnings premium ($986,000) minus total education cost ($124,756)
Student Loan Payoff for Economics in Stockton
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Stockton for Economics
University of the Pacific
private
$52,584/yr
$210,336 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
San Joaquin Delta College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Economics in Stockton
Stockton offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Economics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Stockton 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 Stockton
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
$72K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$58K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration
$67K starting · 4.2 yr ROI
Economics Degree in Stockton — 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 Stockton.