U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Commerce / Economist

Job-title file

Economist

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

556 employees hold this title in Department of Commerce. Median total compensation for the role is $145,723, above the department median of $127,707.

Employees: 556
Total payroll: $81.7M
Role median: $145,723
Agency median: $127,707
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$68,405$206,208+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 556 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

Economist pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Economists — about 17,790 people — is $124,720. Department of Commerce pays a median base salary of $145,489 for this role, 17% above that figure — about the 60th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Commerce sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$67,360

$89,330

$124,720

$174,720

$238,060

Department of Commerce median · $145,489

The bar is the range of annual wages for Economists across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Commerce’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Commerce is $145,723, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

Economist is held in 43 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Commerce, the median of $145,723 ranks #27 of 43.

Highest-paying departments for this role

Commodity Futures Trading Commission

$247,426 · 32

Securities and Exchange Commission

$214,634 · 138

Federal Reserve System

$208,995 · 65

National Science Foundation

$204,000 · 5

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

$200,226 · 87

Federal Housing Finance Agency

$196,471 · 64

Federal Trade Commission

$191,900 · 88

Office of the U.S. Trade Representative

$191,900 · 3

Department of Justice

$191,900 · 55

Federal Communications Commission

$191,350 · 62

Department of Treasury

$183,749 · 363

Small Business Administration

$181,216 · 9

Median total compensation for the Economist role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Compare jurisdictions

Economist beyond U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

This role is reported in 5 jurisdictions. In U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense), the median of $144,042 ranks #1 of 5. See Economist across all of U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) →

Highest-paying jurisdictions for this role

$135,913 · 8

$79,810 · 69

$73,923 · 10

$65,123 · 35

Median total compensation for comparable Economistroles in other jurisdictions. Titles are matched by normalized name across sources, not identical job classification, and pay is not cost-of-living adjusted. Each bar links to that jurisdiction’s page for the role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Nicholas Wetzler

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$115,942

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $114,942
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,942
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $114,942
Basic Pay (before locality): $114,942
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Nicholas Wetzler is a Economist at Department of Commerce based in Suitland, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $115,942. They are classified at grade 03.

Hing Chan

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$115,646

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $115,646
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,646
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Honolulu
Work county: Honolulu
Work state: Hawaii

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,646
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,646
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 152400003
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Hing Chan is a Economist at Department of Commerce based in Honolulu, Hawaii. 2024 total compensation came to $115,646. They are classified at grade 03.

Tait Militana

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$115,620

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $115,620
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,620
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,620
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,620
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Tait Militana serves as a Economist based in Suitland, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $115,620. They are classified at grade 03.

Rachel Goulder

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$115,321

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $115,321
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,321
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,321
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,321
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Rachel Goulder is a Economist at Department of Commerce based in Suitland, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $115,321. They are classified at grade 03.

Michael Woehrman

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$115,278

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $115,278
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $115,278
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $115,278
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,278
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Michael Woehrman serves as a Economist based in Suitland, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $115,278. They are classified at grade 03.

Aida Kurti

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$114,150

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $114,150
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $114,150
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $114,150
Basic Pay (before locality): $114,150
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Aida Kurti serves as a Economist based in Suitland, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $114,150. They are classified at grade 03.

Jesse Park

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$114,048

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $113,048
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $114,048
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $113,048
Basic Pay (before locality): $113,048
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Jesse Park holds the role of Economist at Department of Commerce based in Suitland, Maryland. In 2024, their total compensation was $114,048. Their pay grade is 03.

Jeremy Montgomery

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$113,933

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $112,933
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,000
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $113,933
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $112,933
Basic Pay (before locality): $112,933
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Jeremy Montgomery is a Economist at Department of Commerce based in Suitland, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $113,933. They are classified at grade 03.

Christopher Surfield

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$113,912

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $113,912
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $113,912
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $113,912
Basic Pay (before locality): $113,912
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Christopher Surfield is a Economist at Department of Commerce based in Suitland, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $113,912. They are classified at grade 03.

Jesse Magolon

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$112,727

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $112,727
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,727
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $112,727
Basic Pay (before locality): $112,727
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Jesse Magolon serves as a Economist based in Suitland, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $112,727. They are classified at grade 03.

Eli Sellinger-Liebman

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$112,112

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $112,112
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,112
Pay grade: 04
Work city: Athens
Work county: Clarke
Work state: Georgia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $112,112
Basic Pay (before locality): $112,112
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 130270059
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Eli Sellinger-Liebman is a Economist at Department of Commerce based in Athens, Georgia. 2024 total compensation came to $112,112. They are classified at grade 04.

Russell Moncrief

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$112,080

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $112,080
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $112,080
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $112,080
Basic Pay (before locality): $112,080
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 14
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Russell Moncrief works as a Economist for Department of Commerce based in Suitland, Maryland. Russell earned $112,080 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Melissa Banzhaf

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$111,914

Sub-department: U.S. Census Bureau
Base pay: $111,914
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,914
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Durham
Work county: Durham
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $111,914
Basic Pay (before locality): $91,808
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 371360063
Length of Service (Years): 16
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Melissa Banzhaf is a Economist at Department of Commerce based in Durham, North Carolina. 2024 total compensation came to $111,914. They are classified at grade 12.

Michael Bentley

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$111,669

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $111,669
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,669
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $111,669
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,669
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Michael Bentley serves as a Economist based in Suitland, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $111,669. They are classified at grade 03.

Michael Calvillo

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$110,906

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $110,906
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,906
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $110,906
Basic Pay (before locality): $110,906
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Michael Calvillo is a Economist at Department of Commerce based in Suitland, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $110,906. They are classified at grade 03.

Eugene Njinkeu

Economist/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$110,013

Sub-department: Bureau of Economic Analysis
Base pay: $110,013
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $110,013
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Suitland
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $110,013
Basic Pay (before locality): $110,013
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241520033
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Eugene Njinkeu holds the role of Economist at Department of Commerce based in Suitland, Maryland. In 2024, their total compensation was $110,013. Their pay grade is 03.