Headline risk
30%
Moderate RiskEconomists
United States AI Work Index tracks this occupation on the shared structural baseline and then layers on local demand resilience, wages, and confidence.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.
Task evidence
97% weighted task match · 17% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 115,440
Employment 2024
17.6K
Projected Change (2024–34)
1.2%
Openings (2024–34)
0.9K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of economists is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Study economic and statistical data in area of specialization, such as finance, labor, or agriculture. AI use: 100%
- 2. Write technical documents or academic articles to communicate study results or economic forecasts. AI use: 85%
- 3. Conduct research on economic and environmental topics, such as alternative fuel use, public and private land use, soil conservation, air and water pollution control, and endangered species protection. AI use: 0%
- 4. Compile, analyze, and report data to explain economic phenomena and forecast market trends, applying mathematical models and statistical techniques. AI use: 89%
- 5. Collect and analyze data to compare the environmental implications of economic policy or practice alternatives. AI use: 0%
- 6. Study the socioeconomic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations. AI use: 0%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Related
No direct US role match is available yet for this occupation.
Source coverage
10/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Mapping quality
crosswalk_exact · employment series present
Narrative & sources
Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.
Economists typically work in an office setting, either independently or collaborating with a variety of other workers. Most economists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Economists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. However, some economists—primarily in government—qualify for entry-level positions with a bachelor’s degree. Others need a Ph.D.
The median annual wage for economists was $115,440 in May 2024.
Employment of economists is projected to show little or no change from 2024 to 2034.
Published limitations
This page shows the local country layer, not realised individual job outcomes. The global structural baseline is shared across countries; only the local demand and wage layer changes here.
Built from O*NET occupation descriptions, task statements, technology skills, work context, Job Zones, Anthropic task penetration, BLS OEWS wages, BLS projection tables, BLS ORS requirements, BLS OOH narrative content, BLS skills data, and BLS CPS occupation age tables.