Also called: Contract Lobbyist, K Street Lobbyist
Persuades lawmakers and government officials to support laws that help a client or cause.
Lobbyists spend their days in meetings with congressional staff, explaining how a bill would affect their clients, whether that's a tech company, a hospital group, or a farmers' union. They write one-page fact sheets, testify at hearings, and attend fundraisers. Many are former staffers or lawmakers.
Top lobbyists earn $500k+; state-level lobbyists earn less.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's degree; many have law or policy degrees and Hill experience. Must register under federal and state lobbying laws.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Professional school, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, Law (JD), Communications.
Growing about average. No specific BLS projection.
Low risk for 10 years. AI tracks bills and drafts fact sheets; persuading lawmakers depends on trust and relationships, which stay human.
Classes: AP U.S. Government, Speech and debate, Economics, AP English Language.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-1199.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.