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Job outlook for policy analysts in the United States
Policy analyst job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected policy analyst job growth rate is 11% from 2018-2028.
About 108,400 new jobs for policy analysts are projected over the next decade.
Policy analyst salaries have increased 8% for policy analysts in the last 5 years.
There are over 6,978 policy analysts currently employed in the United States.
There are 69,173 active policy analyst job openings in the US.
The average policy analyst salary is $66,359.
Are policy analyst jobs in demand?
Policy Analyst job and salary trends over time
Policy Analyst jobs over time
Policy Analyst job growth rate over time
Year  | # Of Jobs | % Of Population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 6,978 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,823 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,663 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 6,622 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 6,321 | 0.00% |
Average policy analyst salary over time
Policy Analyst salary by year
| Year | Avg. Salary | Hourly Rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,359 | $31.90 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $64,542 | $31.03 | +2.0% |
| 2023 | $63,293 | $30.43 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $62,415 | $30.01 | +1.4% |
| 2021 | $61,567 | $29.60 | +0.0% |
Policy Analyst jobs by state
Most common states for policy analysts
| Rank | State | Population | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 789 | 114% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,846 | 22% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 210 | 22% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,025 | 17% |
| 5 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,026 | 15% |
| 6 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 709 | 13% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 131 | 12% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 89 | 12% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 89 | 12% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 73 | 12% |
| 11 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 69 | 12% |
| 12 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 605 | 11% |
| 13 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 141 | 11% |
| 14 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,290 | 10% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 402 | 10% |
| 16 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 312 | 10% |
| 17 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 189 | 10% |
| 18 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,774 | 9% |
| 19 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 855 | 9% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 332 | 9% |
Most common cities for policy analysts
| Rank | City | # of Jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herndon | 2 | 8% | $80,658 |
| 2 | Tallahassee | 7 | 4% | $56,493 |
| 3 | Washington | 18 | 3% | $87,636 |
| 4 | Lansing | 2 | 2% | $65,497 |
| 5 | Bowie | 1 | 2% | $77,042 |
| 6 | Burlington | 1 | 2% | $72,137 |
| 7 | Boston | 4 | 1% | $85,324 |
| 8 | Urban Honolulu | 2 | 1% | $65,074 |
| 9 | Bloomington | 1 | 1% | $70,402 |
| 10 | Centreville | 1 | 1% | $80,499 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 2 | 0% | $62,117 |
| 12 | Indianapolis | 2 | 0% | $68,075 |
| 13 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $80,865 |
| 14 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $77,344 |
Policy Analyst job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of policy analyst experts
UMass Lowell
Merrimack College
University of Cincinnati Clermont College
University of Washington
University of Southern Maine
Western Kentucky University
John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
University of California, Santa Cruz
Pennsylvania State University
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Coastal Carolina University
Drexel University
Molloy College
Montclair State University
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Masters of Science in EntrepreneurshipUMass Lowell
Department of Marketing, Entrepreneurship & Innovation
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: Obviously we are seeing a tremendous increase in AI and other digital technologies. These will become a more crucial skill set for many careers going forward. But I wouldn't downplay the role of what are traditionally seen as soft skills like empathy, communications, and judgment. Not only can these distinguish you from robots but from your human competitors as well.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Michael Ciuchta Ph.D.: If all you want is the highest potential starting salary, then you should aim for careers that offer them. But that is a shortsighted way to view things. For example, many careers that have tournament-like pay structures (think entertainment) often have very low starting salaries but the so-called winners enjoy outsized financial gains. If you are thinking about a more traditional career, I think it's important to make sure you are more valuable to your employer than they are to you. This means you have to market yourself, both to your current employer as well as to potential ones. Of course, this approach may not be for everyone and maximizing your salary potential is only one thing you should be considering when assessing job and career opportunities.
Renee Robinson Ph.D.
Professor of CommunicationWhat will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Renee Robinson Ph.D.: That would be awesome! We were hoping you could answer the following questions: 1. What general advice would you give to a graduate beginning their career in the field?
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Dr. David Powell Ph.D.: MPA (Master's of Public Administration) graduates typically work in local, state, and national government. Some of the positions they typically hold are management analyst, program analyst, policy analyst, budget analyst, finance manager, and human resources manager/specialist among others. We also have graduates who work in local nonprofit organizations in a variety of policy areas such as housing, senior services, etc.
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L
Capstone CoordinatorWhat general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: By saying "Yes". Most companies have standard salaries or small scale for adjusting salary. Per Diem jobs, research interventionist, additional weekend on call, adjunct jobs, and other opportunities gives you the ability to increase salary and opportunities.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: Research skills will be extremely important as the use of evidence-based research in practice and value-based services are imperative. Leadership and entrepreneurship skills will also be important as we promote programming and services in community-based settings.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: I would suggest they keep an open mind and don't be fearful of the unknown, embrace it. I think there is a lot of stress of a getting a certain job or style of job, but taking different opportunities increases your connections and experiences.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Melissa Zimdars: To remember that you're going to learn a lot on the job and that failure is part of the learning process. It's okay to ask questions and to not know things, but you must be willing to take feedback, adjust, and grow.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Melissa Zimdars: Recognize that your first career opportunity won't be your last. If the job you land after college does not have opportunities for growth or advancement, it's imperative that you keep an eye out for them elsewhere as you continue to gain experience in your field.
Fawen Zhang PhD
Professor of AudiologyUniversity of Cincinnati Clermont College
Communication Disorders Sciences And Services
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Fawen Zhang PhD: This is perfect! Thank you so much. We will be sure to feature your response in the article and send a draft over for your review before we promote it.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Victor Menaldo: Interacting with AI and knowing how to best exploit it to get the most out of it: increase productivity and value added in whatever field one is in.
Tove Rasmussen
LecturerUniversity of Southern Maine
Specialized Sales, Merchandising And Marketing Operations
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Tove Rasmussen: Tove Rasmussen advises graduates beginning their career in the field to...
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Timothy Rich PhD: Social science research skills, including research design and quantitative analysis, have broad applications (e.g. local government, think tanks, campaigns, non-profits, business) and students need to be comfortable with data. Writing skills aren't being replaced by ChatGPT, and students need to learn how to write for different audiences and not just for the typical final paper. That means being able to explain complex events or data and synthesize information to someone who has little knowledge about the topic. Students tend to distrust group projects, but learning to work in groups is also a transferable skill and an important one even if working remotely.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Timothy Rich PhD: Think about the types of jobs that interest you and the skills necessary for those jobs early. So many students start thinking about post-graduation life spring their senior year, when it should be an incremental process much earlier. Another pieces of advice would be to talk to faculty and alum about your interests, find internship or research opportunities when possible, and try to figure out early your strengths and weaknesses. It's easy for students, especially high performing ones, to not fully consider what their weaknesses are. I encourage students to jot down what they see as their skills too and to share them with others. It helps them to identify what's a common skill versus something that might make them stick out.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Timothy Rich PhD: In social science fields, many of the highest paid jobs straight out are government related or data analysis related. Without developing research, writing, and in some cases foreign language skills, this will be a limitation. Depending on the desired job, a graduate degree may be required and students should be maximizing their exposure to graduate-style experiences as undergrads to not only get into prestigious law schools, master's programs, etc., but to take advantage of the internship and research opportunities that first year entrants are rarely equipped to handle.
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.
ProfessorJohn Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, And Group Studies
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Being able to negotiate a salary is also a skill that students need to learn and one that is rarely taught in college. Students need to be able to ask for more than they are offered, but also take jobs at entry levels, prove themselves and then ask for an increase in pay six months into the job after they have shown that they are doing the work and achieving their goals.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: Analysis and critical thinking, writing and making strong arguments are indispensable job market skills. Concepts such as 'ethnicity,' 'gender' and 'minority' are constructed in social and historical spaces and times, and students with college degrees can help de-naturalize these categories to make others understand how policy, programming and marketing might not be achieving their stated goals.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Professor Shonna Trinch Ph.D.: My advice to anyone graduating in any field is to think about the skills they have acquired in college and to represent them well on their resume. If students have been trained in quantitative or qualitative research methods, they should be able to talk cogently about the types of analysis they can do for businesses, policymakers and the like. They should also be open to any field when they are first starting out. Today, businesses are interested in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and because many of these programs are not perfect, well-trained students in Ethnic, Gender And Minority Studies--as well as related fields like Cultural Anthropology-- are well positioned to take entry level jobs and critically analyze programs and implement them in justice-oriented ways.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Stephanie Lain Ph.D.: I would advise graduates to be open to considering jobs in lots of different fields. The skills acquired through their major- such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and writing- are ones that transfer well to a variety of situations.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Nicole Kreisberg: At Penn State, we pride ourselves on training graduate students to enter a range of industries where they can impact policy. I would advise students to be open-minded about where they can best make that impact, whether that be in research, organizing, management, or policy advocacy.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nicole Kreisberg: As new technologies and artificial intelligence become increasingly prevalent across industries, it would behoove all new graduate students to learn technical skills in data science, big data computing, and coding to keep pace.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Nicole Kreisberg: All graduate students can benefit from knowing their worth, as well as advocating for themselves at the hiring stage. I always advise students to do their homework in researching average salaries in a given field, and tell them there is never any harm in asking!
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Dr. Paige Novak P.E. (Minnesota), BCEE: Ask questions, stay curious and open minded, take opportunities to learn and develop new skills.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Dr. Naomi Bick: I would tell a graduate beginning their career to take every opportunity presented to them. By trying everything and working with as many people and across as many different settings as possible, they will find the perfect opportunities to thrive and make key connections. I would also tell them to utilize their networks of fellow students, professors, alumni, and community members to find great opportunities. Finally, I would tell them to not be afraid to reach out to professionals in their field for advice and insights. Everyone started from somewhere, and many professionals are excited to mentor and encourage recent graduates.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Naomi Bick: I think in the next several years research and policy analysis will be very important, particularly in the state of California. Being able to understand new policies and apply those to day-to-day administration in various organizations will be key. Increasingly, being able to work with diverse groups of people and respect diversity is also becoming increasingly important, as the field becomes more diverse and public administrators continue to serve diverse communities. Skills such as communication and problem-solving will continue to be important for public-serving employees.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Dr. Naomi Bick: While the public sector is not known for overall high salaries, new grads can maximize their potential salaries and benefits by thoroughly researching positions before applying and looking for publicly available data. Additionally, gaining additional training, certifications, and ultimately a Master's Degree can help grads advance to higher paid positions in the field.
Mark Chandler
Director of Government Relations and Professor of PracticeCoastal Carolina University
Intelligence, Command Control And Information Operations
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Mark Chandler: Solid analytic and communication skills will never go out of style – it’s our bread and butter in intelligence. Regardless of where you work (Military, Policy, Diplomacy, Law Enforcement, etc…) analysis is analysis. Build a strong analytic foundation. Communication skills are critical. You have to know how to write clearly and concisely and you have to know how to brief an audience or supervisor. By the way, artificial intelligence (AI) is not something that can substitute for analysis or communication. As we move forward with technology, a solid understanding of how to use Open Source information will be critical. In the era of AI and disinformation, analysts must be able to detect mis-information, dis-information and find the true factual sources. Develop solid OSINT research skills. Another area is “cyber”. This area will be with us forever, and we have to understand the challenges the Cyber world presents and how threats/issues can range from simple mis-information to catastrophic cyber attacks. While the cyber world is complex, a solid analytic foundation will help separate the wheat from the chaff.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mark Stehr PhD: At the start of your career, it's very important to land a role where you learn a lot and find good mentors. The additional skills will pay dividends as your career progresses.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Michael Rosino PhD: First, I would suggest taking stock of your community or the communities where you would like to work or serve and looking at the local demographics, opportunities, institutions, and organizations. You can then use those resources to network by contacting others who do the type of work you are interested in. Building your reputation and connections with others in the career or field, whether in the space of policy work, nonprofit organizations, business, law, or education, will help you gain further access to mentorship and opportunities. Another suggestion I would give is to develop and refine an area of expertise, whether that is a specific type of research skill or topic to help figure out what your network should look like (for instance, connecting with other folks passionate about health equity, housing, environment, consumer insights, opinion data, etc.) Look at what areas of the economy are growing or what complex problems are emerging as there are always organizations and institutions that will be addressing those issues and opportunities. The payoffs of networking may not come immediately but they will absolutely help down the line in terms of resources and opportunities and help you feel less alone in your work.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Mary Rodena-Krasan Ph.D.: A degree in German Studies is extraordinarily flexible, giving you a skill set that makes you suitable to a variety of fields. Be open to every opportunity and never underestimate the skill sets learning a new language has afforded you - cross-cultural competence, interlinguistic technological adeptness, problem solving, information analysis, and critical thinking. Employers want someone they don't have to hand-hold. Studying a foreign language requires a lot of self-initiative - apply that to every assignment at the job and don't be afraid to suggest approaches! Your ability to undertake something new and be successful has already been proven by your German studies degree!
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Maria Ivanova: My general advice for graduates beginning their careers in Public Policy is to connect research to practice continuously. Engage deeply with your passion and remain adaptable. Building strong relationships with mentors and colleagues is critical. Collaboration across disciplines and contexts can lead to innovative ideas and responses to real-world problems. Remember to follow your intuition—you often know the right thing to do. Once you leave a policy program, you will not only produce policy but also use and follow it. Lastly, you likely entered this field because you are committed to making a positive impact on society, keep this drive alive.
What Policy Analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Maria Ivanova: In the next 3-5 years, skills related to data analytics and technology will become increasingly important. The ability to analyze large datasets, use machine learning algorithms, and develop data-driven policy recommendations will be highly valued. Sustainability and environmental policy expertise will grow in importance as global challenges related to climate change and resource management intensify. Other critical skills, including effective communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement, will also continue to be essential. Responding to real problems through engagement in the classroom will prepare graduates to tackle emerging challenges.
What will help Policy Analysts increase their earning potential?
Maria Ivanova: To maximize salary potential when starting a career in Public Policy, graduates should seek out internships and co-op opportunities that provide practical experience. Connecting with colleagues is crucial—attending industry conferences, joining professional associations, and connecting with alumni can open doors to various new positions. Pursuing advanced certifications or degrees in specialized areas of public policy can also increase earning potential. Demonstrating a strong track record of successful projects and quantifiable impacts in previous roles can make a candidate more attractive to employers.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Analyst?
Dr. Sunhyung Lee: Develop strong communication and analytical skills, as the ability to convey complex economic concepts clearly and interpret data accurately is crucial in the field. Even starting with the small things, you will be surprised to see how many students cannot write proper emails.