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Entry Level Policy Analyst Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

Analyst

Minneapolis, MN · On-site

$120K - $150K/yr

This is an entry level but high-profile role in a high impact team. The successful candidate will ... AB's policies and practices seek to ensure that employment opportunities are available to all ...

Analyst

Minneapolis, MN

$120K - $150K/yr

This is an entry level but high-profile role in a high impact team. The successful candidate will ... AB's policies and practices seek to ensure that employment opportunities are available to all ...

Accounting Analyst I

Duluth, MN · On-site

$54K - $67K/yr

In this entry-level role, you'll help ensure compliance with company and regulatory requirements ... Apply departmental policies and practices, assuring compliance with company and regulatory ...

This is an entry level position within the Account Analyst job family, with a goal of acquiring a ... Executes post-sale account management workflow, including initiation of billing, policy issuance ...

Associate Account Analyst

Anoka, MN · Hybrid

$46K - $84K/yr

This is an entry level position within the Account Analyst job family, with a goal of acquiring a ... Executes post-sale account management workflow, including initiation of billing, policy issuance ...

Find your place at Pace Join us as an Entry Level Chemical Regulatory Analyst, where you'll put ... This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring ...

Find your place at Pace ® Join us as an Entry Level Chemical Regulatory Analyst, where you'll put ... This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring ...

MN

$20 - $27.25/hr

This is an excellent opportunity for an entry-level IT professional looking to build experience in ... Follow established IT procedures, service level agreements (SLAs), and security policies. * Provide ...

$20 - $27.25/hr

This is an excellent opportunity for an entry-level IT professional looking to build experience in ... Follow established IT procedures, service level agreements (SLAs), and security policies. * Provide ...

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Showing results 1-20

Entry Level Policy Analyst information

See Minnesota salary details

$52.4K

$98.9K

$114.6K

How much do entry level policy analyst jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level policy analyst in Minnesota is $98,871.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,300.00 and $114,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level policy analysts when transitioning from academic studies to a professional policy environment?

Entry level policy analysts often find the transition from academia to the workplace challenging due to the fast-paced nature of policy work and the need to produce concise, actionable briefings for decision-makers. Unlike academic research, which can be in-depth and theoretical, professional policy analysis requires synthesizing information quickly, meeting tight deadlines, and clearly communicating complex ideas to non-expert audiences. Collaborating with more experienced colleagues and adapting to shifting priorities within a policy team are also common aspects new analysts must learn to navigate. Support from mentors and proactive engagement in team discussions can ease this transition.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Entry Level Policy Analyst, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Policy Analyst, you need strong research, analytical, and written communication skills, typically supported by a bachelor’s degree in public policy, political science, economics, or a related field. Familiarity with data analysis tools like Excel, policy analysis software, and experience with legislative tracking systems are common technical requirements. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and the ability to clearly present complex information make candidates stand out in this role. These skills ensure well-informed policy recommendations, effective communication with stakeholders, and contribute to successful policy development and evaluation.

What Does an Entry-Level Policy Analyst Do?

As an entry-level policy analyst, you study and analyze how laws and regulations can affect public policy. A significant amount of these jobs involve working with the federal government. Your responsibilities include analyzing information surrounding laws and regulations, evaluating how they affect the public, and creating written presentations about your findings. Your duties may also include either writing or assessing a proposal for new laws and regulations.

What are entry level policy analysts?

Entry level policy analysts are professionals who assist in researching, evaluating, and developing policies for organizations, government agencies, or think tanks. They collect and analyze data, prepare reports, and help assess the effectiveness of current or proposed policies. Typically, these roles are suited for recent graduates and those with limited professional experience, offering opportunities to build expertise in policy research and analysis. Entry level policy analysts work under the supervision of senior analysts and may contribute to policy recommendations and briefings.

What is the difference between Entry Level Policy Analyst vs Policy Associate?

AspectEntry Level Policy AnalystPolicy Associate
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in public policy, political science, or related fieldBachelor's degree, often with some experience or internship in policy work
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, think tanks, NGOs, consulting firmsNonprofits, government offices, research organizations
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly used in public sector and policy researchUsed across similar sectors, often interchangeable with policy analyst roles
Search & Comparison IntentPeople looking for entry-level policy research rolesIndividuals exploring similar entry-level policy positions

Both roles typically require a bachelor's degree and involve policy research, analysis, and reporting. The main difference lies in job titles used by employers; 'Policy Associate' may sometimes imply a slightly broader or different organizational context, but both are entry-level roles focused on policy analysis and research.

What are the most commonly searched types of Policy Analyst jobs in Minnesota? The most popular types of Policy Analyst jobs in Minnesota are:
What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Policy Analyst jobs in Minnesota? For Entry Level Policy Analyst jobs in Minnesota, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Minnesota are hiring for Entry Level Policy Analyst jobs? Cities in Minnesota with the most Entry Level Policy Analyst job openings:
Infographic showing various Entry Level Policy Analyst job openings in Minnesota as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Locum Tenens, 85% Full Time, 8% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,871 per year, or $47.5 per hour.
Utility Data and Modeling Analyst

Utility Data and Modeling Analyst

HDR

Saint Louis Park, MN

Other

Posted 8 days ago


HDR rating

9.1

Company rating: 9.1 out of 10

Based on 57 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

39th of 442 rated engineering


Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we foster a culture of inclusion throughout our company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story' 
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world. 
We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you'll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience.  We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This isn't just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.

About the Role

HDR is seeking an entrylevel Utility Data, Asset Management & Hydraulic Modeling Analyst to support water and wastewater utility projects through applied hydraulic modeling analysis, data analytics, GIS, and asset management. This position contributes to system evaluations, capital planning, regulatory analysis, and development of technical deliverables for municipal utility clients. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong analytical capability, technical rigor, and an interest in advancing datadriven utility planning.

Key Responsibilities:

Hydraulic Modeling & System Analysis

  • Assist with building and maintaining hydraulic model data for water distribution and wastewater collection systems using GIS datasets, asbuilt drawings, and field data.
  • Support hydraulic simulations, system performance evaluations, and scenario analyses for planning studies and operational assessments.
  • Utilize data from industry modeling tools such as InfoWater, InfoSewer, InfoSWMM, InfoWorks ICM, SewerGEMs, WaterGEMs, EPANet, and ArcGIS Pro. 

Data Engineering, Analytics & Visualization

  • Perform data acquisition, cleaning, validation, and exploratory analysis on large datasets including SCADA data, metering data, GIS layers, and monitoring records.
  • Develop analytical and visualization outputs using SQL, Power BI, Python, R, and GIS platforms to support technical evaluations.
  • Support database management, data structuring, and creation of modeling-ready datasets to improve study reliability and documentation.
  • Handle highly sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion
  • Collaborate with stakeholders to improve business decisions by identifying patterns and trends in data
  • Develop data products including reports, visualizations, and dashboards
  • Adhere to software and data science development standards
  • Perform data acquisition, sourcing, cleaning and exploratory data analysis (EDA)
  • Transform raw data into usable attributes for machine learning modules through feature engineering
  • Manage model lifecycle including development, deployment, data drift detection, model retraining, and model inference.
  • Create automated data pipelines and data engineering solutions
  • Develop advanced and custom predictive models (classification, regression, time series, neural networks, natural language processing, and computer vision)
  • Tune models with training, hyperparameters with comprehensive validation and testing processes

Asset Management & Capital Planning

  • Contribute to asset inventory development, condition assessment processes, and risk prioritization activities supporting water and wastewater capital planning.
  • Assist in preparing asset management and capital improvement plan documents, including risk modeling graphics, lifecycle analysis summaries, and decision-support exhibits.
  • Integrate asset, condition, and geospatial data to support longterm strategic planning for utility infrastructure.

Utility Planning, Policy Analysis & Technical Reporting

  • Support development of technical reports, planning documents, regulatory analyses, and client presentations.  
  • Assist with evaluating impacts of evolving state and federal environmental policies on client utility systems.
  • Leverage predictive models to optimize business results
  • Contribute to studies involving financial planning, rate evaluation, and longrange system needs assessment.

Professional Collaboration

  • Actively participate in HDR's employeeowned, collaborative culture by working closely with multidisciplinary teams including engineers, planners, analysts, and project managers.  
  • Communicate findings through written reports, visualizations, engineering graphics, and presentations.  
  • Maintain high standards of quality control, documentation, and analytical accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree
  • A minimum of 3 years experience in a data science role
  • Foundational knowledge or academic experience in hydraulics, environmental systems, data analytics, GIS, or related disciplines.
  • Familiarity with or academic exposure to hydraulic modeling concepts or tools.  
  • Experience with ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, or ArcGIS Online.
  • Oracle Spatial or SQL Server Spatial back-end data processing experience  
  • Understanding of asset management principles such as condition assessment, risk scoring, or lifecycle planning.
  • Interest in environmental regulations and policy frameworks related to water and wastewater utilities.  

#LI-EV1

Required Qualifications
  • A degree in a closely related field or combination of education and relevant experience
  • Self-motivated, detail-oriented professional, ability to multitask a must
  • Proficiency with MS Office including Word and Outlook
  • Proficiency with data engineering tools and languages such as SQL, Power Query, and Pandas
  • Proficiency with business intelligence tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Plotly, Seaborn, and Matplotlib
  • Proficiency with data science languages such as Python and R
  • Ability to handle confidential information
  • Excellent writing and people skills
  • Strong math and organizational skills
  • Flexibility and ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks and various managers in a fast-paced environment
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills including grammar, punctuation, proofreading, spelling and telephone skills
  • An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.


What HDR employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


HDR logo

About HDR

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Omaha, NE, US

Year founded

1917