What are careers in education policy?

Superintendent, Instructional Coordinator, and school counselor are all careers in education policy. All of these positions require specific education and requirements, but the major and the experience required vary greatly between positions.

How To Become A Policy Advisor: What It Is and Career Path

What is a policy advisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Richardson Dilworth

There's often some confusion shoveling around the difference between a policy advisor and a policy analyst. For a good reason, the two jobs often have a lot of overlap. However, a policy advisor usually works on the periphery of actual policymaking and may have a more operational focus. They typically are more concerned with policy's practical and functional side than the analytic 'nitty-gritty' of a policy analyst. Generally, a policy advisor's role is to inform policy analysts on policymaking's various issues.

To ensure success in this role, you should possess specialized knowledge and a firm grasp of policy development's legal considerations. As a professional Policy Advisor, you must provide direction and advice that ultimately contribute to positive changes within the organization. This role might require you to work with a range of elected officials, chief executives, and senior officers on specific projects. In some cases, you may also need to serve as a lobbyist for your industry, business, or charity.

What general advice would you give to a policy advisor?

Richardson Dilworth

You should have already started your career, through internships, relevant coursework, informational interviews, conferences, everything … You need to distinguish yourself as having unique knowledge and experience in whatever field you’re pursuing. I personally think any form of thesis is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate unique area knowledge relevant to whatever career you want to pursue.

ScorePolicy AdvisorUS Average

Salary

7.6

Avg. Salary $98,220

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.43%

Asian 8.83%

Black or African American 6.36%

Hispanic or Latino 9.39%

Unknown 4.56%

White 70.43%

Gender

female 40.30%

male 59.70%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Complexity level

1.8

Complexity level is simple

7 - challenging

Key steps to become a policy advisor

Explore policy advisor education requirements

Most common policy advisor degrees

Bachelor's

58.4 %

Master's

25.2 %

Doctorate

11.7 %

Start to develop specific policy advisor skills

Skills	Percentages
Public Policy	10.43%
Policy Issues	8.19%
Policy Development	8.00%
Policy Recommendations	4.75%
Policy Analysis	4.00%

Research policy advisor duties and responsibilities

Manage all issues relate to high quality survey administration including training and approval/certification, performance oversight and data collection.
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Facilitate and participate in departmental policy meetings concerning healthcare, Medicaid, social services, telemedicine, grant opportunities and budgeting.
Construct business system infrastructure providing the pathway to grow executive, mid-management, and customer facing staff for management consulting firm.

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