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Political Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Survey Researcher

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$88K - $108K/yr

Principal About Tavern Research Tavern Research is a political tech startup building tools and insights to help our customers win elections and make better, evidence-based decisions. We specialize in ...

Political Reporter

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$60 - $72/hr

Use data, public records, and research tools to uncover impactful stories * Engage with viewers through social media platforms and community events * Monitor political trends and identify stories ...

Political Analyst

Washington, DC ยท On-site +1

$63K - $158K/yr

Research experience in international affairs * Ability to work in a team environment * Interest in ... Political Science * At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale Additional information Candidates should ...

$2.7K/wk

Position Information Recruitment/Posting Title Lecturers, Political Science Department Political ... Recently, Rutgers-Camden earned Carnegie classification as an R2 research university due to a high ...

Director of Survey Research

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$185K - $219K/yr

Director of Survey Research Location: Chicago, IL or Washington, DC Reports to: CEO Salary : $185 ... About You You've spent a career doing serious political polling at the highest levels, the kind ...

Senior Researcher

Chicago, IL ยท On-site

$145K - $185K/yr

Director of Survey Researcher or Principal About Tavern Research Tavern Research is a political tech startup building tools and insights to help our customers win elections and make better, evidence ...

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Political Researcher information

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$30K

$113.1K

$164.5K

How much do political researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for political researcher in the United States is $113,102.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $67,000.00 and $154,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Political Researchers face when gathering and analyzing data?

Political Researchers often encounter challenges such as accessing reliable and up-to-date information, especially from restricted or rapidly changing sources. Balancing objectivity and accuracy when interpreting data is essential, as is managing tight deadlines for delivering research to stakeholders. Additionally, researchers frequently collaborate with analysts, policy experts, and communication teams, requiring strong communication skills to ensure findings are clearly presented and actionable.

What does a political researcher do?

A political researcher gathers, analyzes, and interprets data related to political systems, public policies, elections, and government activities. They often work for think tanks, political parties, advocacy groups, or academic institutions, supporting decision-making by providing insights and recommendations. Their work may include conducting surveys, reviewing legislation, monitoring media, and preparing reports on political trends or issues. Political researchers play a vital role in informing political strategies and public understanding of political processes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Political Researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Political Researcher, you need strong analytical skills, a background in political science or a related field, and experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods. Familiarity with data analysis software (such as SPSS or Stata), public databases, and citation management tools is typically required. Excellent written and verbal communication, attention to detail, and critical thinking are vital soft skills for interpreting information and presenting findings. These abilities enable Political Researchers to produce accurate, insightful analysis that supports policy decisions, campaigns, and scholarly work.
More about Political Researcher jobs
What cities are hiring for Political Researcher jobs? Cities with the most Political Researcher job openings:
What states have the most Political Researcher jobs? States with the most job openings for Political Researcher jobs include:
Infographic showing various Political Researcher job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,102 per year, or $54.4 per hour.

Survey Researcher

Tavern Research

Chicago, IL โ€ข On-site

$88K - $108K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 4 days ago


Job description

Survey Researcher
Location: Chicago, IL or Washington, DC
Office: 3 days/week in South Loop office
Reports to: Principal
About Tavern Research
Tavern Research is a political tech startup building tools and insights to help our customers win elections and make better, evidence-based decisions. We specialize in scaling expert human work, such as content generation and survey research to support thoughtful, data-driven civic engagement. We're a venture-backed, mission-driven, fast-moving, and mostly technical team focused on supporting campaigns and organizations working to strengthen democratic participation. We are experimental by design and expect every team member to continuously improve how they work using new tools and technology. Everything else is on our website. If you still have questions, let us know when you apply!
About You
You're curious, adaptable and are excited by AI's real-world impact and taking on hard problems. You thrive in high-stakes environments, learning on the fly, and delivering under pressure. Skills matter more than credentials (we don't care if you dropped out of school), and political experience is a plus but not required. If our mission at Tavern Research resonates with you, we encourage you to apply - even if you don't check every box!
About the role
You'll be joining our fast-growing team as a Survey Researcher supporting our survey research operations. In this role, you'll help design survey questionnaires, deploy research, and analyze political surveys that provide critical insights to campaigns and organizations. You'll also use those findings to help shape how our clients communicate and engage their audiences - translating data into messaging guidance and strategic recommendations. This position is ideal for someone who feels constrained by conventional survey work and is eager to apply research methods to real-world political challenges. You'll work directly with our data science and political strategy teams to turn survey data into actionable insights that help our clients succeed.
We value in-person work and expect employees based in Chicago to work regularly from our South Loop office. We also welcome candidates based in Washington, DC.
Responsibilities
  • Design and deploy surveys using our proprietary research tools and methodologies
  • Manage data collection processes, ensuring quality and timely completion of research projects
  • Clean, process, and perform preliminary analysis on survey data to identify key insights
  • Assist in creating memos and presentations to effectively communicate research findings
  • Use generative AI to improve your efficiency and develop advanced workflows
  • Develop and refine survey questionnaires, including question wording, ordering, and scale design, to ensure valid and actionable results
  • Use research findings to inform and shape client communication strategies, including messaging guidance and audience targeting recommendations

Qualifications
  • 2+ years of experience with survey research, polling, or similar data collection work
  • Sophisticated understanding of electoral politics
  • Basic understanding of data analysis programming languages (R or Python)
  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced political environment
  • Experience using and optimizing your workflow with generative AI

To be explicit: you don't need a degree to work here. You just need to be exceptional at the things we're asking from you.
Benefits
  • Premium health insurance
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Office closed for all federal holidays
  • 401k match
  • Equity

Tavern Research is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
The pay range for this role is:
88,300 - 108,900 USD per year (HQ)