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

Job-title file

Economist

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

16 employees hold this title in Department of State. Median total compensation for the role is $168,353, above the department median of $133,692.

Employees: 16
Total payroll: $2.6M
Role median: $168,353
Agency median: $133,692
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$72,965$218,838+

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

How total compensation varies among the 16 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 State pays a median base salary of $168,353 for this role, 35% above that figure — about the 72nd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of State sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$67,360

$89,330

$124,720

$174,720

$238,060

Department of State median · $168,353

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 State’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of State is $168,353, 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 State, the median of $168,353 ranks #14 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

Department of Justice

$191,900 · 55

Office of the United States Trade Representative

$191,900 · 3

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 Economist roles 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.

Same department

Other job titles in Department of State

Accounting 108
Administration and Office Support Student Trainee 149
Administrative Officer 235
Architecture 56
Audiovisual Production 31
Auditing 55
Budget Analysis 306
Building Management 54
Civil Engineering 17
Contracting 266
Data Science Series 26
Distribution Facilities & Storage Management 19
Electrical Engineering 21
Emergency Management Specialist 48
Engineering Technical 21
Equal Employment Opportunity 19
Financial Administration and Program 224
Fire Protection and Prevention 21
Foreign Affairs 2,824
General Arts and Information 18
General Attorney 325
General Business and Industry 63
General Education and Training 134
General Engineering 106
General Physical Science 20
Government Information Specialist 93
Grants Management 79
History 45
Human Resources Management 500
Industrial Hygiene 23
Information Technology Management 1,025
Instructional Systems 26
Interior Design 31
Language Specialist 41
Legal Occupations Student Trainee 37
Librarian 17
Logistics Management 60
Management and Program Analysis 1,516
Mechanical Engineering 25
Medical Officer 14
Miscellaneous Administration and Program 986
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant 60
Nurse 50
Paralegal Specialist 27
Passport and Visa Examining 1,972
Program Management 139
Public Affairs 249
Realty 34
Records and Information Management 35
Secretary 110
Security Administration 375
Social Science 16
Social Science Student Trainee 48
Supply Program Management 17
Support Services Administration 140
Telecommunications 57
Traffic Management 60
Training Instruction 263
Writing and Editing 45

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Michael Ruffner

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$220,672

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $220,672
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $220,672
Pay grade: 00
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $220,672
Basic Pay (before locality): $220,672
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 27
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ES

Michael Ruffner works as a Economist for Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. Michael earned $220,672 in 2024. Their pay grade is 00.

Michael Tracton

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$214,560

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $214,560
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $214,560
Pay grade: 00
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $214,560
Basic Pay (before locality): $214,560
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 24
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): ES

At Department of State, Michael Tracton serves as a Economist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $214,560. They are classified at grade 00.

Philip Luck

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$191,289

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $191,289
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $191,289
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $191,289
Basic Pay (before locality): $143,546
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of State, Philip Luck serves as a Economist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $191,289. They are classified at grade 15.

Kari Heerman

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$180,359

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $180,359
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $180,359
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $180,359
Basic Pay (before locality): $135,344
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 10
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kari Heerman holds the role of Economist at Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $180,359. Their pay grade is 15.

Mina Kim

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$171,923

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $171,923
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $171,923
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $171,923
Basic Pay (before locality): $129,013
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 17
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GG

Mina Kim holds the role of Economist at Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $171,923. Their pay grade is 14.

Lynda Vargha

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$171,923

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $171,923
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $171,923
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $171,923
Basic Pay (before locality): $129,013
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GG

At Department of State, Lynda Vargha serves as a Economist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $171,923. They are classified at grade 14.

Matthew Ewald

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$171,923

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $171,923
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $171,923
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $171,923
Basic Pay (before locality): $129,013
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 20
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of State, Matthew Ewald serves as a Economist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $171,923. They are classified at grade 14.

Beeta Ehdaie

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$169,429

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $169,429
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $169,429
Pay grade: 15
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $169,429
Basic Pay (before locality): $127,142
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Beeta Ehdaie is a Economist at Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $169,429. They are classified at grade 15.

Dana Stryk

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$167,276

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $167,276
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $167,276
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $167,276
Basic Pay (before locality): $125,526
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GG

Dana Stryk works as a Economist for Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. Dana earned $167,276 in 2024. Their pay grade is 14.

Tanner Gebhart

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$153,336

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $153,336
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $153,336
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $153,336
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 8
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Tanner Gebhart is a Economist at Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. 2024 total compensation came to $153,336. They are classified at grade 14.

Christopher Kennedy

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$153,336

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $153,336
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $153,336
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $153,336
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christopher Kennedy works as a Economist for Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. Christopher earned $153,336 in 2024. Their pay grade is 14.

Jonah Yuen

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$144,042

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $144,042
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $144,042
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $144,042
Basic Pay (before locality): $108,091
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GG

Jonah Yuen works as a Economist for Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. Jonah earned $144,042 in 2024. Their pay grade is 14.

Uzaib Saya

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$137,624

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $137,624
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $137,624
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $137,624
Basic Pay (before locality): $103,275
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Uzaib Saya works as a Economist for Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. Uzaib earned $137,624 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Jacob Forsyth

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$121,894

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $121,894
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $121,894
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $121,894
Basic Pay (before locality): $91,471
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jacob Forsyth works as a Economist for Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. Jacob earned $121,894 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Nicole Gorton-Caratelli

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$121,894

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $121,894
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $121,894
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $121,894
Basic Pay (before locality): $91,471
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Nicole Gorton-Caratelli works as a Economist for Department of State based in Washington, District of Columbia. Nicole earned $121,894 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Emily Keane

Economist/Department of State

2024 total comp

$72,965

Sub-department: Department of State
Base pay: $72,965
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,965
Pay grade: 09
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $72,965
Basic Pay (before locality): $54,754
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 0110
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of State, Emily Keane serves as a Economist based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $72,965. They are classified at grade 09.