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

What is a senior policy analyst and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Tracy Harbin

A senior policy analyst is responsible for analyzing, developing, and improving the policies within an organization, either in the private or the public sector. Most senior policy analysts work in finance and healthcare companies, as well as the government.

Aside from the responsibilities mentioned above, a senior policy analyst's duties may include leading the collection of relevant data, developing and implementing policy changes, educating stakeholders and staff about policies, and providing technical assistance to service providers when needed. As senior employees, they may also be responsible for hiring and training junior members of the staff.

To become a senior policy analyst, one must have a degree in business, political science, law, or something else that is relevant to their line of work. More than that, a senior policy analyst must have gained enough experience in the industry before attaining the role.

In terms of salary, the average senior policy analyst makes around $32 an hour or roughly $65,000 a year.

What general advice would you give to a senior policy analyst?

Tracy Harbin

Professor of Political Science, Seminole State College

They need to understand the importance of public service, not as a politician running for office but as an analyst who is willing to work in the public sector, to support the functions of our government, at all levels. While people may not have said, "I want to be a civil servant when I grow up," our government agencies at all levels need talented, thoughtful, and intelligent people are serving in the public sector.

ScoreSenior Policy AnalystUS Average

Salary

5.4

Avg. Salary $68,774

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.8

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 10.41%

Black or African American 8.54%

Hispanic or Latino 9.22%

Unknown 4.54%

White 67.12%

Gender

female 46.12%

male 53.88%

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

Stress level

6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.7

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

2.2

Work life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a senior policy analyst

Explore senior policy analyst education requirements

Most common senior policy analyst degrees

Bachelor's

59.8 %

Master's

24.7 %

Doctorate

9.7 %

Start to develop specific senior policy analyst skills

Skills	Percentages
Public Policy	7.20%
Policy Issues	6.73%
Project Management	6.24%
Policy Analysis	6.00%
Data Analysis	5.44%

Complete relevant senior policy analyst training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New senior policy analysts learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a senior policy analyst based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real senior policy analyst resumes.

Research senior policy analyst duties and responsibilities

Lead and manage junior staff collecting quantitative and qualitative data on health outcomes among Medicare and Medicaid dual eligible populations.
Lead a cross-team project to deliver state fact sheets highlighting the importance of social security and Medicare.
Manage all issues relate to high quality survey administration including training and approval/certification, performance oversight and data collection.
Conduct detailed reviews of DOD CI/HUMINT doctrine, strategies and policies.

Get senior policy analyst experience

Generally, it takes 2-4 years to become a senior policy analyst. The most common roles before becoming a senior policy analyst include policy analyst, consultant team lead and internship.

Prepare your senior policy analyst resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your senior policy analyst resume.

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