Researchers and analysts who study society's problems and recommend what government should do about them.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Government Economist: Studies data on jobs, prices, and trade to advise the government on economic policy. Typical pay $116k.
Political Scientist: Studies how governments, elections, and political behavior work, often advising policymakers. Typical pay $132k.
Think Tank Senior Fellow: A recognized expert at a think tank who researches big policy questions and tries to influence lawmakers. Typical pay $160k.
Policy Director: Leads the policy agenda for a governor, mayor, agency, or advocacy organization. Typical pay $130k.
AI Policy Researcher: Studies how artificial intelligence should be regulated and advises governments and companies. Typical pay $150k.
Regulatory Economist: Calculates the costs and benefits of proposed government rules, like pollution limits or safety standards. Typical pay $135k.
Demographer: Studies population trends like births, deaths, aging, and migration to help governments plan. Typical pay $110k.
Congressional Research Service Analyst: A nonpartisan expert who answers lawmakers' research questions on any topic, from drones to dairy. Typical pay $110k.
Government Behavioral Scientist: Uses psychology experiments to make government programs work better, like getting more people to sign up for benefits or pay fines on time. Typical pay $120k.
Regulatory Review Analyst: Reviews new government regulations before they take effect, checking costs, benefits, and evidence. Typical pay $125k.
Congressional Budget Office Analyst: Calculates exactly how much every bill in Congress would cost or save over 10 years, a number that can make or break the law. Typical pay $140k.
Tax Microsimulation Modeler: Builds computer models that run a proposed tax change on millions of sample households to show who wins and who pays more. Typical pay $135k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Policy Analyst: Researches a public problem and recommends what government should do about it. Typical pay $78k.
Government Accountability Analyst: Investigates whether government programs work and whether taxpayer money is wasted. Typical pay $105k.
Program Evaluator: Measures whether a government or nonprofit program actually achieves its goals. Typical pay $82k.
Health Policy Analyst: Analyzes health laws and programs like Medicare and Medicaid to improve care and costs. Typical pay $85k.
Education Policy Analyst: Studies school funding, testing, and programs to figure out what helps students learn. Typical pay $78k.
Legislative Fiscal Analyst: Figures out how much every proposed bill would cost taxpayers. Typical pay $85k.
Foundation Program Officer: Decides which nonprofits a charitable foundation should fund to solve social problems. Typical pay $95k.
Government Strategic Foresight Analyst: Imagines possible futures, like new technologies, pandemics, or climate shifts, and helps government prepare for them. Typical pay $105k.
Immigration Policy Analyst: Researches how immigration laws and programs work and what changes would do, for government offices or think tanks. Typical pay $85k.
Starter: fastest way in
Policy Research Assistant: Supports policy researchers by gathering data, checking facts, and drafting sections of reports. Typical pay $52k.
Survey Interviewer: Collects information from people by phone or in person for government and research surveys. Typical pay $42k.
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.