Career Overview
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.
Alternate Job Titles
- Citizen Participation Specialist
- Government Affairs Researcher
- Government Affairs Specialist
- Health Policy Analyst
- Legislative Affairs Specialist
- Legislative Analyst
- Legislative Liaison
- Legislative Policy Analyst
- Local Governance Specialist
- Medical Policy Analyst
- Policy Advisor
- Policy Analyst
- Policy Associate
- Policy Officer
- Policy Specialist
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Teach political science.
- Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
- Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
- Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
- Advise political science students.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.
- Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Law and Government
- English Language
- Education and Training
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Social Perceptiveness
- Complex Problem Solving
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
- Speech Clarity
- Written Expression
- Speech Recognition
- Deductive Reasoning
- Problem Sensitivity
- Near Vision
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Integrity
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Tolerance for Ambiguity
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
- Recognition
- Independence
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
On-the-Job Training: None or short demonstration
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Adobe Acrobat
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Visio
Tools & Equipment
- Conference phones
- Desktop computers
- Digital audio recorders
- Digital video disk DVD players
- Handheld calculators
- Laptop computers
- Overhead display projectors
Work Environment
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $74,750 |
| Median | $139,380 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $191,880 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 5,950
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $94,680
Sociologists
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $101,690
Economists
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $115,440
Law Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.
Median Salary: $126,650
Legislators
Education: Not specified
Median Salary: $44,810
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.