I am graduating in December with a double major in Econ and Statistics. I basically got the Stat degree to show that I have analytical skills but Econ is my true passion. I was just wondering what kind of jobs you got after you graduated and if they are in the triangle or not. I would really like to stay in the triangle if at all possible because in the next few years I would like to get my masters in econ at state whether I do it part time and work or full time.

8/16/2008 10:27:37 PM

I got a BS in Econ

I now make a living blowing shit up


hope that helps

8/16/2008 11:51:40 PM

RTI International is in the triangle and has several programs focused on economic research. Mostly environmental and health topics (they work with folks like the EPA and CDC a lot). Money is good, hours are flexible, the research is usually interesting. Not a bad gig if you can get it.

You can apply on-line, but your chances are better if you know someone in a program that is hiring (for some reason it's near impossible to get a resume past HR). That's actually true of every where I think. Talk to your adviser. They usually know who is hiring and who to talk to.

[Edited on August 17, 2008 at 12:23 AM. Reason : ``]

8/17/2008 12:21:17 AM

my friend gave up and went to seminary

8/17/2008 2:12:45 AM

[obligatory go to grad school/stay in academia tongue in cheek reply]

But seriously, if you're competent enough to get admitted to and hack through a top 15 PhD program, an econ assistant professorship at a half-decent research university starts at ~100-130k.

8/19/2008 12:20:54 AM

yeah not really looking to do the whole PhD thing, just want to get my masters part time

8/19/2008 9:59:07 AM

Hey, can anyone recommend easy ec 300 & up classes?

8/19/2008 10:25:57 PM

McElroy's class was pretty life-changing. IIRC, he did 302 for mostly majors and 348 for non-majors.

8/19/2008 11:54:44 PM

^ +1

it might not be easy if you dont want to learn but if you do man it is an amazing class. I got more out of 302 with him than any course I have taken at state.

8/20/2008 10:13:15 AM

2006 - BA Econ/BA Poli Sci
Work at BofA in Charlotte for the Basel II technology group

8/23/2008 1:10:13 PM

bump for some more advice

9/8/2008 6:18:45 PM

Quote :

"an econ assistant professorship at a half-decent research university starts at ~100-130k."

Really? I thought starting pay for fresh PhDs (assistant professor) in universities in the US was 40-60K? 100K+ is what professors make, and that even, not all of them. I can't believe that a fresh PhD would start at 100K+ at any university, even Harvard.

9/8/2008 6:44:21 PM

^yea that's a little hard to believe

I'm in chemistry and we pull in shit tons of money via grants and such, and our professors don't make that kinda of money starting, even though we make the university lots of money

9/8/2008 7:42:48 PM

^^Econ Ph.D.s do make bank. I actually believe that.


^The chemistry department here sucks. CHASS aside, they probably are paid the lowest.

9/8/2008 8:05:16 PM

Quote :

"I got more out of 302 with him than any course I have taken at state."

I second that.

9/8/2008 9:48:23 PM

Quote :

"^^Econ Ph.D.s do make bank. I actually believe that."

I am sure they do... but not 100-130K as FRESH GRADUATES! That's ludicrous.

Unless I see some proof, there is no way I can believe that, and neither should anybody else.

9/9/2008 1:00:05 AM

^Yes they can. Im in the graduate dept for econ (master's) and they send out job notifications to all graduate students. So I get a lot of PhD only emails. I rarely read them but I do occasionally for fun. IBM sent one out in the spring that offered 126k base starting salary.

If you want to get into econometrics or financial mathematics, you can make 100 pretty easy I think. The job would be boring as all hell but it pays extremely well.

The avg salary coming out of the master's program here is 65k, and a PhD is another 4-5 years of school. So I definitely believe that. Bosworth (PA professor, 1.5 years out of school, PhD econ, like 31 y/o) is making 70 for a public university in a department that pays less. Pelletier, econ, makes like 90 two years out of school, deals with econometrics.

EDIT: sorry I didnt fully read the thread, just the previous post or two. Yeah, you wont make 100-130 teaching fresh out of school. Im guessing 63ish-70ish is standard for a public school. You can make some more or less depending on your previous school, published material, research and specialty. Here are some of the salaries fresh of the top of my head for the econ (grad) professors Ive had: Newmark 75, Lapp 100, Wessels 90?, Wohlgenant 150, Pelletier 90, Headen 80, uhh i cant remember anyone else. These guys dont teach a ton though, a lot of them get separate money through research grants, publications, and blogs (newmark).

[Edited on September 9, 2008 at 4:00 AM. Reason : im a turd]

9/9/2008 3:56:01 AM

Quote :

"^The chemistry department here sucks. CHASS aside, they probably are paid the lowest."

Starting professors in chemistry are looking at ~$70k/year. I think you can get to around or close to $100k after 7-8 years. Highest paid professors in this department are making around $150k/year


the Chem department here brings in more money than any other chemistry department in the state, even chapel hill. Chapel Hill has more faculty and graduate students, so per person that means they bring in even less. I think last year there was over 10 million in research grants paid out to the department.

[Edited on September 9, 2008 at 10:32 AM. Reason : asdf]

9/9/2008 10:30:59 AM