What Can You Do with an Economics Degree?
More than you think. The data backs it up.
THE BIG PICTURE
Most people hear "economics degree" and picture one career. The reality is much more interesting. Economics majors end up in management, finance, tech, consulting, government, real estate, and a dozen other fields. There are a variety of opportunities available because the skills you will build in this program (quantitative reasoning, data analysis, understanding how people and systems behave) are in demand almost everywhere.
A recent study published in the Journal of Economic Education looked at national data on mid-career professionals whose highest degree is a bachelor's in economics. The results show just how many directions this degree can take you.
TOP CAREERS FOR ECONOMICS MAJORS
The table below shows the most common occupations among mid-career economics majors nationwide, along with median income. These are working professionals aged 35–45 with a bachelor's degree in economics, based on data from the American Community Survey (2018–2023).
| Occupation | % of Econ Majors | Median Income |
|---|---|---|
| Managers (general/operations) | 7.3% | $132,619 |
| Financial managers | 6.4% | $153,374 |
| Chief executives and legislators | 4.3% | $202,522 |
| Accountants and auditors | 4.0% | $105,448 |
| Personal financial advisors | 3.3% | $187,463 |
| Management analysts | 2.5% | $132,699 |
| Securities and financial services sales agents | 2.4% | $297,853 |
| General and operations managers | 2.2% | $99,590 |
| Software developers | 2.0% | $127,812 |
| Financial and investment analysts | 2.0% | $122,870 |
| Sales representatives (wholesale/manufacturing) | 1.9% | $117,587 |
| First-line supervisors (retail sales) | 1.9% | $83,399 |
| First-line supervisors (non-retail sales) | 1.9% | $119,199 |
| Real estate brokers and sales agents | 1.6% | $165,773 |
| Sales managers | 1.5% | $173,590 |
Source: Holian & Chiu, Journal of Economic Education. Data from the 2018–2023 American Community Survey (U.S. Census Bureau). Sample includes employed workers age 35–45 with a bachelor's degree in economics.
WHAT THE DATA TELLS US
It's not just "finance"
Yes, many economics majors work in financial roles. But look closer, and you'll notice they're also in management, tech, sales leadership, consulting, and executive positions. The degree opens doors across industries, not just one.
Leadership shows up early
Several of the top occupations are management and supervisory roles. Economics trains you to think about decisions, tradeoffs, and strategy. These are skills that move people into leadership.
The income range is wide (and high)
Median incomes across these occupations range from the mid-$80,000s to nearly $300,000. Where you land depends on the path you choose, but the ceiling is high and the floor is solid.
WHERE VIRGINIA TECH ECONOMICS GRADS WORK
Closer to home, our own graduates are building careers at organizations across the private sector, government, and consulting. Based on recent senior surveys, our graduates have landed jobs at Booz Allen Hamilton, CGI, Deloitte, EY, FDIC, Freddie Mac, Leidos, PNC, and Tecolote Research.
This is a snapshot, not a complete list. We're building out an alumni profiles section to share more of these stories — check back soon.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
If you're considering an economics major and wondering whether it leads somewhere, the short answer is: it leads to a lot of somewheres. The longer answer is that economics gives you a way of thinking about data, about incentives, and about how the world actually works. Employers across dozens of industries are willing to pay well for those skills.
You don't have to know exactly what you want to do. The data shows that economics majors figure it out, and they end up in places they didn't necessarily expect.