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Job outlook for policy interns in the United States
Policy internship job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected policy internship job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 22,300 new jobs for policy interns are projected over the next decade.
Policy internship salaries have increased 8% for policy interns in the last 5 years.
There are over 3,542 policy interns currently employed in the United States.
There are 47,625 active policy internship job openings in the US.
The average policy internship salary is $64,641.
Are policy internship jobs in demand?
Policy internship job and salary trends over time
Policy internship jobs over time
Policy internship job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3,542 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,569 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,572 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,488 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,411 | 0.00% |
Average policy internship salary over time
Policy internship salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $64,641 | $31.08 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | $62,932 | $30.26 | +1.9% |
| 2024 | $61,749 | $29.69 | +1.2% |
| 2023 | $61,028 | $29.34 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $59,711 | $28.71 | +2.2% |
Policy internship jobs by state
Most common states for policy interns
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 152 | 22% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 88 | 14% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 112 | 12% |
| 4 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 70 | 12% |
| 5 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 80 | 9% |
| 6 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 106 | 8% |
| 7 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 62 | 8% |
| 8 | Alaska | 739,795 | 60 | 8% |
| 9 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 128 | 7% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 93 | 7% |
| 11 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 75 | 7% |
| 12 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 74 | 7% |
| 13 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 101 | 5% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 263 | 4% |
| 15 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 110 | 4% |
| 16 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 76 | 4% |
| 17 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 75 | 4% |
| 18 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 57 | 4% |
| 19 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 254 | 3% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 125 | 3% |
Most common cities for policy interns
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $76,289 |
| 2 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $65,479 |
| 3 | Juneau | 1 | 3% | $81,782 |
| 4 | Washington | 9 | 1% | $81,862 |
| 5 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $79,286 |
| 6 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $65,128 |
| 7 | Portland | 1 | 1% | $48,128 |
| 8 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $53,238 |
| 9 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $51,667 |
| 10 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $66,759 |
| 11 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $58,150 |
| 12 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $50,680 |
| 13 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $83,392 |
| 14 | Montgomery | 1 | 0% | $49,282 |
| 15 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $61,625 |
| 16 | Saint Paul | 1 | 0% | $56,095 |
| 17 | Tampa | 1 | 0% | $51,004 |
Policy Internship job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of policy internship experts
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
University of Maryland - College Park
Kent State University
University of Rhode Island
California State University - Sacramento
SUNY Buffalo State
Utah State University
University of New Hampshire
Georgetown University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Lehman College
University of Miami
Kennesaw State University
Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Colorado Mesa University
What Policy Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Naomi Bick: I think in the next several years research and policy analysis will be very important, particularly in the state of California. Being able to understand new policies and apply those to day-to-day administration in various organizations will be key. Increasingly, being able to work with diverse groups of people and respect diversity is also becoming increasingly important, as the field becomes more diverse and public administrators continue to serve diverse communities. Skills such as communication and problem-solving will continue to be important for public-serving employees.
What will help Policy Interns increase their earning potential?
Dr. Naomi Bick: While the public sector is not known for overall high salaries, new grads can maximize their potential salaries and benefits by thoroughly researching positions before applying and looking for publicly available data. Additionally, gaining additional training, certifications, and ultimately a Master's Degree can help grads advance to higher paid positions in the field.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Internship?
Maria Ivanova: My general advice for graduates beginning their careers in Public Policy is to connect research to practice continuously. Engage deeply with your passion and remain adaptable. Building strong relationships with mentors and colleagues is critical. Collaboration across disciplines and contexts can lead to innovative ideas and responses to real-world problems. Remember to follow your intuition—you often know the right thing to do. Once you leave a policy program, you will not only produce policy but also use and follow it. Lastly, you likely entered this field because you are committed to making a positive impact on society, keep this drive alive.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Internship?
Jaclyn Piatak PhD: Soft skills like professionalism, teamwork, and communication will continue to be vital on the job. However, recent graduates will have an edge with the latest data and technology skills from utilizing AI to streamline tasks to performing data analytics.
What will help Policy Interns increase their earning potential?
John Ronquillo Ph.D., MPA: Consider getting an advanced degree. Having a master's degree in public policy, public administration, or a related field can significantly increase your earning potential upon completion. These degrees are typically designed to enhance skills and demonstrate specialized expertise. Try to gain relevant preparatory experience through internships. Internship experience, especially at government agencies or think tanks, can make you a more competitive candidate and may allow you to negotiate a higher starting salary. Develop specialized skills. Skills in areas like data analysis, GIS mapping, program evaluation, or language proficiency can differentiate you in an applicant pool and potentially lead to higher compensation. Negotiate strategically. Research salary data, highlight your qualifications, discuss the long-term value you bring, and don't be afraid to counter low initial offers. Keep learning whenever possible. Earning professional credentials, in either formal credit-bearing programs or more informal trainings offered through job settings or professional networks can validate your expertise and possibly boost your earning power. The key is leveraging education, skills development, strategic job targeting, and confident negotiation to maximize your policy career earning potential from day one. Building a strong portfolio early can potentially pay dividends.
What Policy Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Emily White: When searching for a career in public policy, public affairs or public policy analysis, networking is so important, particularly with alumni from your university. They are the ones who want to mentor you and have been in your shoes. Making those alumni connections via LinkedIn, conferences or informational interviews can often lead to an internship or even a full-time job. It’s all about networking! It can be helpful to narrow your interest based on your skills and strengths, whether it’s government relations, nonprofit management, federal government, or policy analysis. Employers are looking for job seekers who can tell a good story about what they are interested in and why.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Internship?
Daniel Hawes Ph.D.: There are several good reasons to consider pursuing a career in public administration at this time: - Demand for public service: The demand for public administrators is growing, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic and significant growth has been seen at all levels of government (federal, state, and local). Furthermore, the nonprofit sector – for which a public administration degree is well-suited – is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the United States. - Growing complexity of societal issues: One reason for the growth in the demand for public administrators is that as society becomes increasingly complex, government and nonprofit organizations need greater capacity to deal with growing societal challenges such as climate change, public health, and urban development. Thus, there is a strong demand for skilled professionals who can develop and manage programs addressing these issues. - Career stability and growth: Public administration jobs tend to offer more stability and better benefits compared to the private sector. There is also potential for career growth into leadership positions, especially for those with an MPA.
What Policy Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Daniel Hawes Ph.D.: Public administrators manage and implement public programs and policies within government and nonprofits organizations (and even in some private-sector organizations that work on public projects). Public administrators’ daily tasks can vary widely depending on their role and the size of their organization but generally, their tasks include planning, organizing, directing, controlling, and coordinating resources to provide public goods. For someone with an undergraduate degree entering the field, daily tasks might include supporting policy analysis, assisting in the management of community projects, and conducting research related to program delivery. Alternatively, a Master's in Public Administration (MPA) is specifically designed for upper management roles in public and nonprofit organizations. Those in these positions focus more on strategic planning, decision-making processes, and leading teams to implement policies or projects effectively. An MPA equips them with advanced leadership, decision-making, planning, and policy analysis skills to make organizations more effective in serving the public interest.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Internship?
Daniel Carrigg Ph.D.: Public sector jobs tend to have public salaries. They may or may not be negotiable, and this may depend on union contract or law. Being a member of an honors society such as Pi Sigma Alpha or Pi Alpha Alpha can help for undergraduates. As can having a high GPA – higher than 3.0. These might get you a start at the GS-7 level instead of the GS-5 pay level in the Federal government. A masters' degree like an MPA can help go higher than that starting out, perhaps at the GS-9 level. Very often they will simply start you at the lowest step in that grade, adjusted for your locality. The salaries are all listed publicly online. Private sector jobs often have more room to negotiate salary. But as I said, most of these positions want 2-3 years experience minimum working with various government entities, and that kind of experience may be easier to obtain working directly for government in an entry-level job.
What will help Policy Interns increase their earning potential?
Daniel Carrigg Ph.D.: Getting your foot in the door can be the hardest part. Some good advice is to think very specifically about what you want to do. Do you want to work for Federal, state, or local government? Which department? Which agency in that department? Which office in that agency? Who runs that office now? Who works there? Where is it physically located? What are they currently working on? See if they hold public meetings or conferences you can attend to meet people. Often they will. An internship can help you meet people too. For private sector policy analyst jobs, often they want experience, so doing at least some time in government can help get there. Finally, if it's a Federal job, know that a Federal resume is completely different than a standard resume. It has a lot more info on it and it may be several pages long. You must list salaries. You must not stretch the truth even a little. USAjobs.gov has a wizard to help you build a Federal resume. It does not come out formatted pretty, however. You may format it better yourself, just make sure it includes all of the information from the wizard. They want to know more than most employers, including state and local governments.
Richardson Dilworth
What general advice would you give to a Policy Internship?
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.
What general advice would you give to a Policy Internship?
Dr. James Rae: Practice interviewing skills so that an employer is sufficiently impressed as to be willing to place you on the higher end of the starting salary scale. Building tangible skills and credentials in statistical packages, world languages, or software tools are important; but also training in mediation, leading a focus group, or managing people provide the soft skills that may be rewarded by filling in among job duties that are not expressly mentioned in one's hiring portfolio. Proving that you can adapt, demonstrate willingness to help out the 'team', and bringing positivity and enthusiasm for a position should make any employer more willing to offer a promotion or provide more incentives.
What Policy Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Paul Manna: Quantitative and computing skills certainly will increase in demand, but that has been true for a while. With more and more people learning these sorts of tools these days, including some that are highly technical, a couple of things help set some folks apart from the crowd. First, being technically sophisticated is great, but adding to that the ability to interpret the results of complex analyses and communicate them to policymakers and the broader public is even better. People who can write and speak clearly about these matters, especially doing so for audiences who lack technical skills, are hugely valuable. Second, stepping back a bit, people who are able to think broadly about the ethical dimensions of policy work will continue to be highly valued. Rather than data-driven thinking, I push students to embrace a different approach: values-driven thinking with data. The ability to use critical thinking skills to recognize key values and value tensions in policy, and then knowing where to look for data to grapple with those tensions, is a hugely important skill that has always been important and is becoming more important each day as the policy world becomes flooded with data. How to make sense of it all, and how to leverage it to address key values that communities care about, is hugely important.
Ikhee Cho
Assistant Professor in Public Administration at the Department of Political Science, Public Administration, and Planning (SUNY Buffalo State University)SUNY Buffalo State
Public Administration
What will help Policy Interns increase their earning potential?
Ikhee Cho: Graduates with a Master of Public Administration tend to have some analytical knowledge and applied skills to dive into how the government works and what the government considers implementing and administrating public tasks in our community. Thus, students who have intensive analytical skills for public policy and public services are more likely to have the potential increasing their salary in public and nonprofit sector. Furthermore, I encourage students having some common sense of knowledge how they collaboratively work with others in the public sector and how they modify conflictual conditions when they work for the public because public administrators are facing trade-off situations. It is the key ability to public servants how they resolve conflicts and invent creative and effective policies and programs for the public.
Damon Cann
Utah State University
Political Science And Government
What Policy Internship skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Damon Cann: First up for students working in Political Science is to talk to everyone they can. Getting to know as many people possible working in related areas to what they'd like to do is probably the single most important thing to do. Second, remember in searching for jobs that Political Science equips students with a wide range of marketable skills that have application both in and out of politics. There are many jobs in government, especially at the state and local level. But Political Science majors often market their strong critical thinking, writing, and analysis skills to find jobs in a broader range of sectors beyond politics.
What will help Policy Interns increase their earning potential?
Damon Cann: We've found that our students who have done internships have an easier time finding jobs and tend to find positions that have higher starting salaries than students who haven't done an internship. Investing a little time in planning for an internship opportunity during or immediately after school tends to pay off for our students.
Additionally, students looking to maximize their earning potential may want to consider a graduate degree. For years, we advised students to consider a law degree. This is still a good option for our students who want to practice law. But for students who want to work on government and policy (but not in a law-specific field), we're seeing more and more students consider the Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Public Policy (MPP) degrees. These kinds of credentials, which usually take two years of full-time study to complete, can often help students get into higher paid jobs more quickly than two years of on-the-job experience would.
Carolyn Arcand
Senior Lecturer and Program Director, Master in Public Policy & Master of Public AdministrationUniversity of New Hampshire
Public Administration
What general advice would you give to a Policy Internship?
Carolyn Arcand: Working to maximize your early-career salary potential can begin when you're a student. Pursue opportunities to obtain as much relevant work experience as possible. This could involve completing an internship or fellowship, having a job on campus, working with a faculty member on writing a research study up for publication, etc. Having a bank of prior experience to draw from when applying for a job will put you in a better position to negotiate for more than an entry-level salary.
What will help Policy Interns increase their earning potential?
Carolyn Arcand: I would advise new graduates seeking employment to review current job listings in the field, to see which skills and experiences are most in demand. Then, reflect on your academic experience and update your resume to highlight the skills you developed that align most closely with those that are in demand. When interviewing, be prepared to give examples from your coursework, internships or campus jobs, and other academic experiences that align with those in-demand areas.
Tomoko Steen Ph.D.
Director & ProfessorGeorgetown University
Department of Microbiology and Immunology
What hard/technical skills are most important for Policy Interns?
Tomoko Steen Ph.D.: Know how to write a policy brief. Internship at either government or private sector STM policy offices.
Elizabeth Sasser
Teaching Assistant Professor, Interim Director of Experiential EducationUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Public Policy Department
What soft skills should all Policy Interns possess?
Elizabeth Sasser: Employers tell us that they value teamwork, strong written and verbal communication skills, and sound time management skills. Our Public Policy Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill helps students hone these soft skills through an experiential education course where students work with a non-profit or government client on a real-world policy problem. In this class, students also sharpen their professional etiquette, leadership, and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for pursuing a career in public policy.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Policy Interns?
Robert Valentine: Most of our undergraduate History majors either become social studies teachers or enter a graduate program. If they are certified to teach social studies in middle or high school, the Middle & High School Education Department helps them with certification and job placement. Their minor is in Middle & High School Education, their major is in History. Some of our majors decide to pursue social studies teacher certification after they receive their bachelor's degree in History. In this case, they enroll in a graduate program to receive a master's degree in Social Studies Education, administered by the Middle & High School Education Department. Part of their curriculum involves taking about half their coursework in master's-level History courses.
Other graduating History majors apply for our own master's program in History. From there, they could apply to doctoral programs either at the Graduate Center or elsewhere if they want to become History professors. As far as the impact of the pandemic goes, the hiring of social studies teachers depends upon whether or not the public schools are hiring at all at this time. There has been no effect on enrollment into graduate programs, however. In fact, I believe there has been a slight increase, since the job market is frozen.
Jonathan West Ph.D.
Professor and MPA DirectorUniversity of Miami
Political Science Department
What soft skills should all Policy Interns possess?
Jonathan West Ph.D.: While hard skills might help you get the job, soft skills are more likely to help you succeed in the job. Emotional intelligence, or a set of soft skills, involves the ability to use one's own emotional maturity to relate to and communicate with others. It includes being aware of others, understanding their interests and motivations, listening to their concerns, and fostering teamwork. Those with soft skills are adept at balancing flexibility and resolve, reconciling ambition with ethical standards and leading by example. They help create a productive work environment
Barbara Neuby Ph.D.
Professor of Political ScienceKennesaw State University
Political Science Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Policy Internship job market given the pandemic?
Barbara Neuby Ph.D.: Here in the Atl metro area we have already seen governments and nonprofits redefine their job positions and duties due to covid. It seems many more positions will be remote, many others will not be filled at this time. A couple of local governments told me personally they are going to put holds on all new hiring likely for the remainder of the year. However, the governments that are hiring, are hiring at good salary levels. Some entry jobs are bringing more than I make (which isn't all that much).
Dr. Lacey Fulton
Department ChairClarion University of Pennsylvania
Department of Communication
What will help Policy Interns increase their earning potential?
Dr. Lacey Fulton: Being flexible is key. Enjoying the weird things that are a little out of the ordinary in your field. I've always been the single person who is obsessed with spreadsheets anywhere I have been employed. Be the person who isn't afraid to work within their boundaries but also be able to say no when it's needed or delegate the task if you're in the position to do so. Keeping current, exploring new options for work-flows and remaining on task with limited supervision. Thinking outside the box, innovating and being kind- be the person people want to work with and you'll see your opportunities expand!
Elaine Venter Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Mass CommunicationColorado Mesa University
Communication Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Policy Internship job market given the pandemic?
Elaine Venter Ph.D.: In my opinion, we are going to see an increase in remote work. Graduates should be prepared to be able to work effectively independently and collectively in remote situations relying on computer-mediated communication tools like Zoom.
What soft skills should all Policy Interns possess?
Elaine Venter Ph.D.: Writing skills are still one of the most sought after skills. Even as graduates are told to strengthen their skills in multimedia production whether a graduate in journalism or PR, written communication skills are still core to a lot of the work that happens. This even more now with remote work that requires the extensive use of email and other texting apps beyond Zoom for efficient and quick communication between teams. Graduates should also possess good verbal communication skills and especially be comfortable in both in-person and virtual communication situations - learn to be comfortable and capable speaking to people in person and over a mic and camera. Flexibility is another key skill graduates should possess. This was already a skill prior to the pandemic, but even more so now. Graduates should learn how to deal with situations when they don't go there way, especially with technology situations, and be flexible and adaptable on the fly rather than getting lost in frustration that can lead to situations getting worse.
How have salaries changed over time for Policy Interns?
Elaine Venter Ph.D.: Mass Communication is a broad field that covers anything from journalists, social media managers, camera operators, video editors, PR specialists, copy edits, etc. While salaries are higher for some of these jobs than others, overall, general salaries over the years have been rising in all job sectors of Mass Communication and projections have noted growth especially from 2019 to 2029. The national average for graduates in with a Mass Communication degree falls between $55,000 to $60,000, but early grads can expect to come in on the lower side before moving into positions that can pay even higher than the national averages.