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Careers & Alumni
Economics majors are in demand everywhere, and earn among the very highest starting salaries. You'll find our recent graduates working in tech, as consultants, at banks, in investment and wealth management, for state and local government, as utility analysts, and running their own businesses.
Many majors go on to graduate school. A popular option is to get a Masters Degree in Data Science or Quantitative Economics. Some get an MBA. Others go to law school. And over the years, some get their Ph.D. so that they can work at a university or do research.
Our small-urban location connects you with top local business and government leaders through our service-learning internships. One big advantage of college in a small city is that the entrepreneurs are eager to meet with and hire Cal Poly Economics majors.
Possible Career Opportunities by Emphasis
An Economics degree prepares students for a wide variety of careers. Below are just a few examples of the types of careers and their average salaries (Updated 2026)
Applied & Quantitative Economics
Turn Data into Decisions
Data Analyst
- Analyze and interpret data to support business & policy decisions
- ~$82,000 salary
Data Scientist
- Build predictive models and work with large datasets
- ~$110,000 salary
Operations Research Analyst
- Use mathematical models to improve decision-making
- ~$88,000 salary
Economist
- Often requires graduate school
- ~$115,000 salary
Market Research Analyst
- Analyze consumer behavior and market trends
- ~$77,000 salary
Environmental & Sustainability Economics
Apply Econ to Environmental Challenges
- Environmental Economist
- Analyze climate, pollution, and resource issues
- Graduate degree often required
- ~$115,000 salary
- Sustainability Consultant
- Help organizations reduce environmental impact
- ~$70,000–$95,000 salary
- Environmental Policy Analyst
- Evaluate environmental policies and regulations
- ~$70,000–$90,000 salary
- Natural Resource Analyst
- Study resource use like water, land, and forests
- ~$75,000–$95,000 salary
- Environmental Planner
- Develop sustainable land use and development plans
- ~$70,000–$90,000 salary
General Economics
Solve Critical Problems
- Financial Analyst
- Provide investment advice to individuals and firms
- ~$80,000-$100,000 salary
- Policy Analyst
- Study economic trends as it pertains to government and business
- ~$78,000 salary
- Credit Analyst
- Analyze client credit scores and suggest improvements
- ~$65,000 salary
- Economist
- Often requires graduate school
- ~$115,000 salary
- Economic Legal Consultant
- Work with legal professionals by providing data analysis in cases related to economics
- ~$90,000 salary
Interdisciplinary Economics
Apply Econ to Your Passion
- Lawyer
- Requires Law School
- ~$93,000 salary
- Policy Analyst
- Study economic trends as it pertains to government and business
- ~$78,000 salary
- Financial Planner
- Help corporate or individual clients with their financial goals
- ~$76,000 salary
- Economist
- Often requires graduate school
- ~$115,000 salary
- Urban Planner
- Designs and plans neighborhoods, communities and other areas within a towns or cities
- ~$81,000 salary
Additional Related Career Titles
- Accountant
- Actuary
- Arbitrator / Mediator
- Auditor
- Budget Analyst
- Claims Adjustor / Appraiser
- College Prof
- Compen., Ben., and Job Anal. Specialist
- Cost Estimator
- Economist
- Financial Advisor
- Financial Analyst
- Financial Examiner
- Financial Manager
- Fundraiser
- Industrial Prod. Mgr.
- Insurance Sales Agent
- Insurance Underwriter
- Lawyer
- Loan Officer
- Logistician
- Mtg. & Event Planner
- Mgmt. Analyst
- Mkt. Research Analyst
- Med. & Health Services Manager
- Operations Research Analyst
- Paralegal
- Purchasing Manager
- Real Estate Agent
- Securities & Fin. Services Sales
- Statistician
- Survey Researcher
- Tax Examiner
- Teacher
- Title Examiner
- Training & Dev. Spec.
- Urban & Regional Planner
- Wholesale / Mfg.
- Sales Rep
Meet Our Alumni
Alumni Updates
John Hollister
Economics, 1968
John completed a Master of Social Work (MSW) and then an MBA. He is a father of two daughters. He has worked in social services for seven years, specifically with troubled teens, and for two years as a social worker for individuals with developmental disabilities. Additionally, John has served as a paralegal advocate for ten years, managed programs for another ten years, and spent ten years as a financial and program auditor. Now I am retired. In his free time, he enjoys backpacking, rock climbing, hiking, photography, organic gardening, and promoting peace.
Donald Cresse
Economics, 1985
After 27+ years, Donald Cresse has retired from the LA Department of Water and Power. He worked as an energy conservation rep and then as a supervisor in recycled water. Cresse claims that Drs. Ruprecht and Jewett were instrumental in his education and is thankful for their guidance. Also, Dr. Lehman, who taught him "Appropriate Technology." Cresse says if not for Humboldt and these great professors, he would not be happily retired.
Veronica Sirkis Dunning
Economics, Spanish, 1984
Veronica Dunning's, Economics, 1984, new book, Violet Ribbons, became a finalist in the San Diego Book Awards. The book is available on Amazon and Kindle and is an enjoyable read for escaping with fiction in these trying days. Violet Ribbons provides positive, encouraging messages of self-worth, and dignity.
Donald Moseley
Economics, 1964
Donald Moseley, Economics, 1964, was born in Scotia, California to Adeline (Safford) and John Moseley on March 10, 1942 and passed away on May 11, 2020 surrounded by his family. He graduated from Eureka High School, served in Vietnam, and worked as a Region Transportation Manager for Hershey Chocolate in Oakdale. He was a Stockton resident for 46 years. In retirement, he often taught Digital Photography for Stockton Institute for Continued Learning at San Joaquin Delta College. Photography was his passion and he enjoyed world travels that gave him photo opportunities. He was an avid reader and loved movies and games. He is survived by his wife Carolyn, daughters: Jennifer Moseley; Michelle Espy, and grandchildren Amber, Joseph and Zachary Espy.
Hassan Mujtaba Zaidi
Economics, 2011
Dear Humboldt State University International Office,
I am delighted to share this great news with Humboldt State University's International Office team that I have been chosen among the top 3 candidates for the Queen’s Young Leaders Award 2018 who will represent Pakistan and its positive image at an international level. I will receive the award from the Queen Her Majesty at a special award ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 28th June 2018 with 57 other exceptional young leaders from 53 Commonwealth countries.
Prince Harry’s Message
https://www.facebook.com/queensyoungleaders/videos/2012925105653219/?fr…
Peter Perrault
Economics, 2003
Peter Perrault, 2003 Economics, received a Master’s in Economics from University of San Francisco. He then went on to build and lead the global sustainability program for NetApp, a Fortune 1000 company. Perrault has served as co-chair for an advisory group to the UN Global Compact, was a member of the technical working group establishing GHG accounting standards for the ICT sector under The Carbon Trust and GeSI, and co-chaired the Environment Committee for Silicon Valley Leadership Group. He has held several sustainability consulting positions, is a Sustainability Management Certified Professional (SMCP) and is currently the Sustainability Practice Lead for EnerNOC.
Ha
Economics, 2010
Harriet Ann Burr, 2010 Economics, submitted her thesis, Recidivism Reduction in Humboldt County, for a Master’s of Science in Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University. Burr received an A for her work, and has been authorized as a Master of Science. Burr is currently job searching and researching for her Ph.D.
Harriet Ann Burr
Economics, Pol Sci Minor, 2010
Started this month my master's program in Community Economic Development. Very exciting about it! Considering an AmericCorps Vista contract, joined the Northern California Translators Association, and volunteered to do translations for the National Parks Services for the Pacific Region.