How to become an economist in Australia
Economists perform economic research and analysis, develop and apply theories about production and distribution of goods and services and people's spending and financial behaviour, and provide advice to governments and organisations on economic policy issues.
The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the economists group are projected to grow 26.0% between May 2025 and May 2035, faster than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Analysing interrelationships between economic variables and studying the effects of government fiscal and monetary policies, expenditure, taxation and other budgetary policies on the economy and the community
- Researching, analysing and assessing the effects of labour market programs and industry policies and programs on economic growth, welfare, education and training
- Investigating international and national economic situations, and particular features such as industries, regions and socioeconomic groups
- Studying workplace issues such as enterprise bargaining and wage fixation, and the effect of workplace policies on productivity and economic growth
- Analysing trends and advising on economic issues such as taxation levels, prices, employment and unemployment, imports and exports, and interest and exchange rates
- Forecasting changes in the economic environment for short-term budgeting, long-term planning and investment evaluation
How to get there
What it usually takes. A bachelor degree or higher. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the economists group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 96% a degree or higher, 1% a diploma, 1% a Certificate III or IV.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria17 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Politics, Philosophy and Economics · Monash, Clayton80.30 Commerce (Economics major) · La Trobe, Melbourne71.30 Politics, Philosophy and Economics · Deakin, Melbourne Burwood61.25 Politics, Philosophy and Economics · La Trobe, Melbourne61.20 Business (Economics major) · La Trobe, Melbourne56.30Showing 8 of 17 matches. Search every course.
NSW and ACT37 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics · UNSW92.20 Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy, and Economics · Sydney92.05 Bachelor of Economics · UNSW92.00 Bachelor of Economics · Sydney91.15 Bachelor of Economics · Macquarie84.40 Bachelor of Economics · UTS83.20 Bachelor of Property Economics · UTS82.00 Bachelor of Economics and Finance · Wollongong80.50Showing 8 of 37 matches. Search every course.
Queensland21 matches
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics (Honours) · UQ, St Lucia99.50 Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics (Honours) · UQ, St Lucia94.10 Bachelor of Economics · UQ, St Lucia82.35 Bachelor of Property Economics · QUT, Gardens PointOnline70.65Showing 8 of 21 matches. Search every course.
Western Australia13 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Economics and Master of Economics · UWA, Perth90.10 Bachelor of Agribusiness and Master of Agricultural Economics · UWA, Perth90.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics · UWA, Perth88.70 Bachelor of Economics · UWA, Perth80.85 Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education) - Humanities and Social Sciences Education in Economics · Curtin, Perth63.20 Bachelor of Education (Secondary) - Food and Materials Technologies: Home Economics · ECU, Joondalup60.50Showing 8 of 13 matches. Search every course.
Matched on course names, 88 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Graduate outcomes, national
Undergraduates surveyed about four to six months after finishing, in 2025, across all providers. Full-time work is among those available for it. All graduates: 75.4% and $77,000. These are national figures for the study area, not for this course or uni, and a first-year salary says little about later pay. Source: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Investigative, Conventional, Enterprising.
From O*NET ratings for "Economists", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a good match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
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Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Graduate outcomes: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025, National Report Tables (Social Research Centre, for the Australian Government).
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.