7 of the Best Types of Policy Analyst Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Policy Analyst jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Policy Analyst Jobs

• Entry Level Policy Analyst

  Salary range: $83,000 - $116,500

  Becoming an entry-level policy analyst requires a bachelor’s degree and extensive knowledge of the law and political science. Obtaining your master’s degree is highly recommended, and may increase your employment opportunities. Qualifications include expert research skills needed to meet the responsibilities of the job, as well as a working knowledge of analytical mathematics. A large portion of your job involves reading and analyzing data, then drawing logical conclusions about how laws and regulations affect public policy.

• Internship Policy Analyst

  Salary range: $83,000 - $116,500

  An Internship is a position within your desired field that pays little or no money but offers you the opportunity to gain real-world experience. This may set you apart for your future job search. Generally, Internships are almost expected by employers on an entry-level candidate’s resume. You are much more of an asset to an employer if you have some work experience.

• Director Policy Analyst

  Salary range: $67,000 - $116,500

  A director is a low-level executive in a company or organization that is responsible for a particular project, region, or division. A director of a company is employed to manage the day-to-day business activities of a group or division within an organization. There are different types of directors, but they are all tasked with leading others and meeting the goals of the organization. Directors plan, execute and manage to reach a goal. For example, the sales director would oversee the sales for a particular product or area. An HR director would be tasked with screening applicants and hiring the right candidates, making sure to comply with all employment laws and settling any personnel issues.

• Full Time Policy Analyst

  Salary range: $83,000 - $116,500

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• Senior Policy Analyst

  Salary range: $75,500 - $115,000

  Senior Policy Analyst is a typical job search query. Most salaries for Senior Policy Analyst jobs pay between $75,500 (25th percentile) and $115,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Senior Policy Analyst job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Freelance Policy Analyst

  Salary range: $65,000 - $98,500

  Freelancers are self-employed. As a freelancer, you provide work to clients and invoice them for it. The type of clients you have depends on what kind of services you offer. Your clients can be individuals or companies. A full-time freelancer often has assignments from multiple clients at once. Some common services that people provide as freelancers are: writing, editing, graphic design, web design, marketing, programming, accounting, and bookkeeping. Freelancing is ideal for those who prefer to be their own boss and are willing to market themselves to meet their income goals.

• Junior Policy Analyst

  Salary range: $48,000 - $73,500

  Junior Policy Analyst is a typical job search query. Most salaries for Junior Policy Analyst jobs pay between $48,000 (25th percentile) and $73,500 (75th percentile) annually. Take a look at the variety of open positions nationwide for Junior Policy Analyst job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.