Career & Tools
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) hires students at the Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD levels for positions supporting the US Congress and also offers summer internships. Read on to learn more about these opportunities and see sample job descriptions!
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) produces independent analyses of budgetary and economic issues to support the Congressional budget process. Each year, the agency's economists and budget analysts produce dozens of reports and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed legislation. CBO is strictly nonpartisan, conducts objective, impartial analysis, and hires its employees solely on the basis of professional competence without regard to political affiliation.
CBO hires talented new employees each year and is particularly interested in students completing graduate degrees in public policy, public affairs, health policy, or economics for analyst positions.
- Ph.D. candidates tend to work as economists and policy analysts addressing issues of importance to Congress.
- Master's candidates tend to work as budget analysts focused on the costs of proposed legislation and the impacts on the U.S. budget.
- Students completing bachelor's degrees in economics, mathematics, statistics, finance, and public policy can be considered for assistant analyst positions.
You can view profiles of some of the current analysts and learn why they joined CBO and what they enjoy about their work. You can also click on these links to view sample job descriptions: Health Policy Analyst, Education Analyst, Climate and Energy Economist, and Economist.
CBO encourages students to register at www.cbo.gov/careers to receive job announcements and notices for the graduate-level summer internship program which opens January 2022. CBO also hosts virtual seminars for student groups. The current schedule is here and CBO will post new opportunities to connect as they become available. They are offering an "On the Market Seminar for PhD's" on October 27, 2021 at 12pm PT.
CBO may consider noncitizens who are permanent residents seeking U.S. citizenship; information is available on their website. For answers to employment and internship questions or to schedule a virtual student seminar, please contact careers@cbo.gov.