Step-by-Step Guide for How to Become a Political Analyst

<h2 id="section---CareerInformationAtAGlance">Career Information At a Glance</h2> <p>A political analyst is a type of political scientist who performs research and analysis for governmental and private organizations. They often assess existing or proposed policies and the surrounding circumstances in order to deliver their analysis about how a policy will affect a sector or community. An analyst may also work with election and polling data in order to predict outcomes or understand results and trends. They may research foreign governments to evaluate how international politics affect domestic issues and national security. </p> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td><b>Required Education</b> </td><td>Generally at least a master's degree, although some positions will allow a bachelor's degree</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Other Requirements</b> </td><td> Qualified experience in a related field, such as a junior analyst, university instructor, or a journalist; some jobs require foreign language capabilities</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Key Skills</b></td><td> Gathering relevant data, analyzing policies and statistics, writing recommendations, interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Projected Job Growth (2020-2030)*</b></td><td>9% (for all political scientists)</td></tr> <tr><td><b>Median Salary (2020)*</b></td><td> $125,350 (for all political scientists)</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i> </p> <h3 id="section---Step1EarnABachelorSDegree">Step 1: Earn a Bachelor's Degree</h3> <p>Political analysts require advanced academic writing and research skills. A bachelor's degree is the minimum education requirement. Preferred degree fields include political science, international relations, and economics. Positions may require a high-grade point average. Students can hone writing and analytical skills with original writing. University clubs and internships can be used to start building experience in the political arena. </p> <h3 id="section---Step2BuildUpWorkExperience">Step 2: Build up Work Experience</h3> <p>It is important to develop experience by working with focus groups, synthesizing data, and conducting in-depth research in order to build the work experience many political analyst jobs require. Some analysts do this by working on political campaigns as entry-level analysts or journalists. Experience in university positions (including teaching) can also be helpful. Work experience and expertise in specific areas is generally necessary for specialized positions. For example, if the analyst is to research a foreign country, knowledge of the language and culture may be highly desired. </p> <h3 id="section---Step3EarnAnAdvancedDegree">Step 3: Earn an Advanced Degree</h3> <p>Political analysts often need higher education in politics, economics, or related fields. The skills developed may include conducting formal research in a team environment and publishing original work in academic journals. Project management or consulting are also skills that may be advanced in a graduate program. Some analysts have master's degrees while others continue on to a doctorate. </p> <h3 id="section---Step4ChooseASpecificField">Step 4: Choose a Specific Field</h3> <p>There are jobs in both the public and private sectors. Political parties and the various departments in the local, state, and federal government all look for experienced analysts to discuss the ramifications of potential policies. Private corporations and industries also hire analysts more tailored to their interests, such as medical corporations investing in healthcare policies or technology companies who are invested in commerce, employment, and educational policies. </p> <p>There is a heavy concentration of positions at the federal level, especially based in Washington, D.C., but there are positions throughout the country that may be affiliated with a political group or a specific industry. It is important to note that the salary is influenced by the specific job description, the organization and the accessible funding. <i>PayScale.com</i> records the median salary of a policy analyst as $60,552 in 2021 while the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics records the salary of political scientists as almost double that.</p>