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Senior policy associate salary
Average senior policy associate salary
$83,938
Understanding the Senior Policy Associate Salary
A Senior Policy Associate plays a vital role in analyzing and shaping policies that impact communities and organizations. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $83,938 annually, translating to approximately $40 per hour. Factors influencing this salary include level of experience, geographical location, and the specific industry.
Salary by State
In states such as California and New York, Senior Policy Associates tend to earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. For instance, California may offer salaries exceeding $90,000 per year, while states with a lower cost of living may range from $70,000 to $80,000.
Industry Insights
Senior Policy Associates are typically employed in sectors like government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and think tanks. Each sector has different budgetary constraints and salary structures. For example, those in federal positions may receive additional benefits compared to their counterparts in private organizations.
Overall, understanding the various factors that affect salaries can empower job seekers to make informed decisions regarding their career paths.
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Where can a Senior Policy Associate earn more?
Senior policy associate salary estimates from across the web
Average senior policy associate salary by state
The average senior policy associate salary in California, Alaska, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior policy associate salary states are Illinois, Wyoming, and Pennsylvania.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior policy associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $104,888 | $50.43 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $96,797 | $46.54 |
| 3 | Nevada | $96,401 | $46.35 |
| 4 | Vermont | $95,968 | $46.14 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $112,118 | $53.90 |
| 6 | Delaware | $96,154 | $46.23 |
| 7 | California | $124,058 | $59.64 |
| 8 | Texas | $99,203 | $47.69 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $102,030 | $49.05 |
| 10 | New Hampshire | $94,071 | $45.23 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $97,080 | $46.67 |
| 12 | North Dakota | $90,339 | $43.43 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $90,780 | $43.64 |
| 14 | Maryland | $93,416 | $44.91 |
| 15 | Mississippi | $89,058 | $42.82 |
| 16 | Michigan | $91,076 | $43.79 |
| 17 | West Virginia | $88,187 | $42.40 |
| 18 | Virginia | $89,917 | $43.23 |
| 19 | Maine | $88,055 | $42.33 |
| 20 | Utah | $89,774 | $43.16 |
| 21 | Iowa | $88,529 | $42.56 |
| 22 | Nebraska | $87,217 | $41.93 |
| 23 | New York | $93,633 | $45.02 |
| 24 | Massachusetts | $90,808 | $43.66 |
| 25 | Arizona | $90,792 | $43.65 |
| 26 | Ohio | $87,805 | $42.21 |
| 27 | South Dakota | $82,120 | $39.48 |
| 28 | Kansas | $86,889 | $41.77 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $84,253 | $40.51 |
| 30 | Idaho | $82,657 | $39.74 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $85,472 | $41.09 |
| 32 | Montana | $82,618 | $39.72 |
| 33 | Washington | $86,099 | $41.39 |
| 34 | Arkansas | $83,835 | $40.31 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $84,391 | $40.57 |
| 36 | Missouri | $87,611 | $42.12 |
| 37 | Oklahoma | $84,249 | $40.50 |
| 38 | Kentucky | $83,811 | $40.29 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $79,401 | $38.17 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $84,267 | $40.51 |
| 41 | Indiana | $83,367 | $40.08 |
| 42 | Georgia | $83,886 | $40.33 |
| 43 | Minnesota | $83,147 | $39.97 |
| 44 | Colorado | $81,245 | $39.06 |
| 45 | Florida | $84,187 | $40.47 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $82,762 | $39.79 |
| 47 | Hawaii | $63,519 | $30.54 |
| 48 | Illinois | $79,650 | $38.29 |
| 49 | Oregon | $69,831 | $33.57 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $74,105 | $35.63 |
| 51 | Alabama | $64,658 | $31.09 |
Highest paying cities for senior policy associates
The highest-paying cities for senior policy associates are San Francisco, CA, Washington, DC, and Austin, TX.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $128,396 | $61.73 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $112,206 | $53.95 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $100,359 | $48.25 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $93,783 | $45.09 |
| 5 | Bethesda, MD | $93,139 | $44.78 |
| 6 | Arlington, VA | $91,566 | $44.02 |
| 7 | Pittsfield, MA | $91,318 | $43.90 |
| 8 | Tucson, AZ | $90,454 | $43.49 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $88,280 | $42.44 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $86,645 | $41.66 |
| 11 | Durham, NC | $85,399 | $41.06 |
| 12 | Saint Paul, MN | $83,209 | $40.00 |
| 13 | Colorado Springs, CO | $81,522 | $39.19 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $79,835 | $38.38 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $74,678 | $35.90 |
Senior policy associate salary details
A senior policy associate's salary ranges from $54,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $129,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior policy associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $129,000 | $10,750 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $105,000 | $8,750 | $50 |
| Average | $83,938 | $6,995 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
Highest paying senior policy associate jobs
The highest paying types of senior policy associates are cumulative effects analyst, senior advocate, and climate change analyst.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate Change Analyst | $77,387 | $6,449 | $37.21 | 24,764 |
| Policy Internship | $64,641 | $5,387 | $31.08 | 47,625 |
| Policy Analyst | $66,359 | $5,530 | $31.90 | 69,173 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for senior policy associates, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Brian W. Lagotte
Assistant Teaching Professor Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Kansas
Top companies hiring senior policy associates now:
Which companies pay senior policy associates the most?
Senior policy associate salaries at APCO Worldwide and The Aspen Institute are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior policy associate salary at companies like Urban Institute and Tishman are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | APCO Worldwide | $128,076 | $61.58 |
| 2 | The Aspen Institute | $121,558 | $58.44 |
| 3 | Urban Institute | $121,009 | $58.18 |
| 4 | Tishman | $112,480 | $54.08 |
| 5 | $112,295 | $53.99 | |
| 6 | New York Life Insurance | $102,375 | $49.22 |
| 7 | Search for Common Ground | $101,330 | $48.72 |
| 8 | Accenture | $100,893 | $48.51 |
| 9 | Acumen Solutions | $98,533 | $47.37 |
| 10 | Stifel Financial | $94,422 | $45.40 |
| 11 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | $92,737 | $44.59 |
| 12 | BlackRock | $89,823 | $43.18 |
| 13 | National Conference of State Legislatures | $86,170 | $41.43 |
| 14 | Cityblock Health | $86,128 | $41.41 |
| 15 | Colorado State Express | $86,125 | $41.41 |
| 16 | Robinhood | $85,468 | $41.09 |
| 17 | Silicon Valley Leadership Group | $85,205 | $40.96 |
| 18 | Atla | $83,392 | $40.09 |
| 19 | Duke University Health System | $82,627 | $39.72 |
| 20 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | $79,483 | $38.21 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior Policy Associate salary by industry
The average senior policy associate salary varies across industries:
- The average senior policy associate salary in the finance industry is $93,457, the highest of any industry.
- The average senior policy associate salary in the finance industry is $88,292.
- Senior policy associates in the government industry earn an average salary of $76,692, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for senior policy associates
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $93,457 | $44.93 |
| 2 | Professional | $88,292 | $42.45 |
| 3 | Education | $84,014 | $40.39 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $80,659 | $38.78 |
| 5 | Government | $76,692 | $36.87 |
High paying senior policy associate jobs
Senior policy associate salary trends
The average senior policy associate salary has risen by $11,817 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior policy associate earned $72,121 annually, but today, they earn $83,938 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for senior policy associates over the last decade.
Compare senior policy associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior policy associate salary over time
Compare senior policy associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior policy associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $83,900 | $40.35 | +2.6% |
| 2025 | $81,800 | $39.32 | +0.3% |
| 2024 | $81,500 | $39.20 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $79,500 | $38.24 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | $79,000 | $37.97 | +2.1% |
Recently added senior policy associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Flood Coalition | Senior Policy Associate | Ione, WA | 05/19/2025 | $77,000 |
| Duke University | Senior Policy Associate | Durham, NC | 12/12/2024 | $76,450 |
| Children, Inc. | SR. Policy Associate | Ione, WA | 12/04/2024 | $67,280 |
| American Civil Liberties Foundation of Oregon Inc. | Senior Policy Associate | Portland, OR | 10/28/2024 | $87,924 |
| Children, Inc. | Senior Policy Associate, Economic Justice | Ione, WA | 10/23/2024 | $67,280 |
| Duke University | Senior Policy Associate | Durham, NC | 10/07/2024 | $80,250 |
| The Sphere Institute | Senior Policy Associate | Burlingame, CA | 10/03/2024 | $135,000 |
| Uniswap | Senior Policy Associate Washington, District of Columbia, United States | Washington, DC | 09/25/2024 | $203,000 |
| Uniswaplabs | Senior Policy Associate | Washington, DC | 09/24/2024 | $203,000 |
| Global Impact Investing Network, Inc. | Policy Associate or Senior Policy Associate | Ione, WA | 09/13/2024 | $80,000 |
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