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The differences between policy analysts and project analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a policy analyst and a project analyst. Additionally, a project analyst has an average salary of $71,174, which is higher than the $66,359 average annual salary of a policy analyst.
The top three skills for a policy analyst include public policy, policy analysis and policy issues. The most important skills for a project analyst are project management, data analysis, and customer service.
| Policy Analyst | Project Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $66,359 | $71,174 |
| Hourly rate | $31.90 | $34.22 |
| Growth rate | 11% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 69,173 | 207,513 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Policy analysts are responsible for developing government policies and providing advice and briefing to senior management. These professionals work to influence both social and political decisions. They typically work in four key areas, including collecting information, analyzing policies, providing recommendations, and sharing information with government officials and the public. Additionally, they are also expected to consult with stakeholders to provide quantitative evidence supporting their policy. The rest of their time is spent on writing, reading, and analyzing information.
A project analyst is responsible for overseeing the development of new projects upon completion of data gathering. A project analyst must provide plans and design the project to its full potential. For this, it is essential to conduct extensive research and coordinate with all staff and departments involved through regular reports and various forms of communication. Furthermore, a project analyst must devise strategies to improve particular projects for it to succeed and achieve better results, all in adherence to the company policies and regulations.
Policy analysts and project analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Policy Analyst | Project Analyst | |
| Average salary | $66,359 | $71,174 |
| Salary range | Between $47,000 And $92,000 | Between $52,000 And $97,000 |
| Highest paying City | Seattle, WA | Jersey City, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Apple | |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a policy analyst and a project analyst in terms of educational background:
| Policy Analyst | Project Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 65% | Bachelor's Degree, 68% |
| Most common major | Political Science | Business |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Northwestern University |
Here are the differences between policy analysts' and project analysts' demographics:
| Policy Analyst | Project Analyst | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 46.1% Female, 53.9% | Male, 57.7% Female, 42.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 8.4% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 9.1% Asian, 12.1% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% | Black or African American, 8.0% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 8.9% Asian, 13.7% White, 64.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 12% |