Career comparison
Economics Professor vs. Economist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Economists earn more at the median ($124,720 vs. $123,920), while economists usually get to work faster (2–6 years after a bachelor’s of training). Economics professors teach how markets, money and policy work, and research the economy. Economists study how money, resources and decisions shape the economy.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Economics Professor | Economist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $123,920 | $124,720 ($59.96/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,060 – $224,200 | $67,360 – $238,060 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +2.4% (slower than average) | +4.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 1,000 | 1,100 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 5–6 years after a bachelor’s | 2–6 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in economics | Master’s or Ph.D. in economics |
| Work setting | Faculty work in classrooms and offices at colleges and universities.. | Economists work in offices for governments, firms and research institutions.. |
What each job does
Economics Professor
- Teach economics courses
- Analyze economic data
- Conduct research
- Publish papers
- Advise students
Economist
- Collect economic data
- Build models and forecasts
- Analyze policies
- Write reports
- Present findings
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, high-pay, working independently, and desk work. They sit in different fields, education & childcare and business & office, but share transferable skills such as clear explanation and critical thinking.
Which should you choose?
Choose economics professor if…
- I love economics
- I enjoy data
- I like teaching
Choose economist if…
- I love data and theory
- I follow economic news
- I like writing
Still torn? Take the Economics Professor fit quiz and the Economist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, economics professor or economist?
Economists earn more at the median: $124,720 versus $123,920 for economics professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Economists typically train faster (2–6 years after a bachelor’s) than economics professors (5–6 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects economists to grow +4.7% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for economics professors.