Side-by-side distribution
Policy Analyst
$101,450
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 57.8%
- Live roles
- 102
Public Affairs
$152,262
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 38.9%
- Live roles
- 90
Highest-paying jobs
Policy Advisor
Principal Business Economist/Regional Policy Advisor
Senior RF Spectrum Policy Analyst/Engineer
Senior Technology and Policy Advisor
Senior Network Modernization & Policy Analyst
Policy Specialist/Analyst
Tactical Communications Policy and Strategy Analyst
Cyber Workforce Policy Advisor
Cyberspace Policy Analyst, Senior
Data and Artificial Intelligence Policy and Governance Analyst
Highest-paying jobs
Senior Manager, Diagnostics Public Affairs (Public Relations)
Senior Strategy Manager, Government Affairs | Housing
Senior Manager, Government & Regulatory Affairs
Government and Public Affairs: Community Engagement Manager
Senior Manager Government Affairs
Manager, Public Affairs
Sr. Government Affairs Manager (National Security)
Senior Manager, Global Oncology Communications, Bladder Cancer and GU Public Affairs
Senior Public Relations Manager - Corporate Affairs & Public Policy
Government Affairs Manager II, Midwest and Central Region
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
Booz Allen Hamilton
|
$101,450 | 11 |
State of Oregon
|
$8,208 | 6 |
|
CACI
|
$142,900 | 4 |
|
The Aerospace Corporation
|
$189,200 | 2 |
|
Federal Reserve System
|
$181,858 | 2 |
|
Analytic Services Inc
|
$160,425 | 2 |
| PA Parsons | $112,200 | 2 |
Technical Assent
|
$107,500 | 2 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
SpaceX
|
$152,500 | 3 |
|
Instacart
|
$196,250 | 2 |
|
Abbott
|
$182,500 | 2 |
|
EliseAI
|
$225,000 | 1 |
|
GEICO
|
$203,463 | 1 |
|
Radiant Industries
|
$198,375 | 1 |
|
Higgsfield
|
$195,000 | 1 |
Coinbase
|
$185,833 | 1 |
Policy Analyst salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $88,600 | 4 |
Policy Analyst vs Public Affairs: which pays more?
The median for Policy Analyst is $101,450 per year (typically $78,213–$133,264), versus $152,262 for Public Affairs ($118,835–$184,559). That puts Public Affairs about 50% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Policy Analyst and Public Affairs are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.