H-1B Visa Economist Jobs
Economist roles qualify as H-1B visa specialty occupations under USCIS because they require at least a bachelor's degree in economics or a closely related field. Federal agencies, research institutions, financial firms, and consulting companies all sponsor H-1B visa petitions for economists, and the position's clear degree requirement makes LCA certification straightforward.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
LSC's Legislative Budget Office (LBO) is seeking an economist to join our team. Economists work in one of six groups organized by subject and are assigned various state agencies that become the focus of their work. The day-to-day duties of an economist vary considerably depending on the activity of the General Assembly. Duties include:
- Researching topics on behalf of a legislator and providing written or verbal summaries to the member or their staff;
- Analyzing bills for potential fiscal effects on state and local government budgets and preparing fiscal notes;
- Forecasting state tax revenues and Medicaid caseloads and costs;
- Preparing extensive analyses of the executive's proposed and the final enacted agency operating budgets at the beginning and end of the biennial budget process;
- Following assigned agencies throughout the budget process, including amendment drafting, research, preparing analysis pieces, and estimating the fiscal effect of proposed state tax and Medicaid policy changes;
- Drafting appropriation and related language to be incorporated into legislation;
- Creating written resources for the General Assembly on topics of interest.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The current starting salary for new economists is $65,000; a higher starting salary may be awarded based on applicant's experience. We offer our economists merit-based salary increases, opportunities to learn and grow in their careers, and a comprehensive state benefit package including:
Medical Coverage
- Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits.
Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance
- Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums are free after completed eligibility period.
Leave
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave.
- 11 paid holidays per year.
- Childbirth/Adoption leave.
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
- OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary.
Deferred Compensation
- The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Graduate degree in economics or a related field;
- Experience in conducting research and writing papers in a school or work environment;
- Demonstrated ability to use mathematical reasoning and to think analytically;
- Demonstrated ability to write clearly and concisely;
- Willingness to limit public activity to not give any appearance of bias in work.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRONG CANDIDATE
- Strong interest in non-partisan public service;
- Preference for a variety of work assignments;
- Desire to always be learning new things;
- Ambition to become an expert on a topic of importance to the state of Ohio;
- Wish to make a difference in state government in a "behind-the-scenes" role; and
- Pride in being part of the legislative process.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete the application on careers.ohio.gov and attach all of the following documents:
- Resume;
- Cover letter;
- Three references (with email addresses);
- Copies of transcripts for college and graduate school; and
- Writing sample of between four and six pages.
ADA STATEMENT
Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
INTRODUCTION
LSC's Legislative Budget Office (LBO) is seeking an economist to join our team. Economists work in one of six groups organized by subject and are assigned various state agencies that become the focus of their work. The day-to-day duties of an economist vary considerably depending on the activity of the General Assembly. Duties include:
- Researching topics on behalf of a legislator and providing written or verbal summaries to the member or their staff;
- Analyzing bills for potential fiscal effects on state and local government budgets and preparing fiscal notes;
- Forecasting state tax revenues and Medicaid caseloads and costs;
- Preparing extensive analyses of the executive's proposed and the final enacted agency operating budgets at the beginning and end of the biennial budget process;
- Following assigned agencies throughout the budget process, including amendment drafting, research, preparing analysis pieces, and estimating the fiscal effect of proposed state tax and Medicaid policy changes;
- Drafting appropriation and related language to be incorporated into legislation;
- Creating written resources for the General Assembly on topics of interest.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
The current starting salary for new economists is $65,000; a higher starting salary may be awarded based on applicant's experience. We offer our economists merit-based salary increases, opportunities to learn and grow in their careers, and a comprehensive state benefit package including:
Medical Coverage
- Quality, affordable, and competitive medical benefits.
Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance
- Dental, vision, and basic life insurance premiums are free after completed eligibility period.
Leave
- Paid time off, including vacation, personal, and sick leave.
- 11 paid holidays per year.
- Childbirth/Adoption leave.
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System
- OPERS is the retirement system for State of Ohio employees. The employee contributes 10% of their salary towards their retirement. The employer contributes an amount equal to 14% of the employee’s salary.
Deferred Compensation
- The Ohio Deferred Compensation program is a 457(b) voluntary retirement savings plan.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Graduate degree in economics or a related field;
- Experience in conducting research and writing papers in a school or work environment;
- Demonstrated ability to use mathematical reasoning and to think analytically;
- Demonstrated ability to write clearly and concisely;
- Willingness to limit public activity to not give any appearance of bias in work.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A STRONG CANDIDATE
- Strong interest in non-partisan public service;
- Preference for a variety of work assignments;
- Desire to always be learning new things;
- Ambition to become an expert on a topic of importance to the state of Ohio;
- Wish to make a difference in state government in a "behind-the-scenes" role; and
- Pride in being part of the legislative process.
HOW TO APPLY
Complete the application on careers.ohio.gov and attach all of the following documents:
- Resume;
- Cover letter;
- Three references (with email addresses);
- Copies of transcripts for college and graduate school; and
- Writing sample of between four and six pages.
ADA STATEMENT
Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.
See all 41+ H-1B Visa Economist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding H-1B Visa Sponsorship as an Economist
Match your degree field to the role
USCIS requires a direct relationship between your degree and the economist position. A degree in economics, applied mathematics, or econometrics supports the specialty occupation claim. A business administration degree alone may trigger an RFE asking for equivalency evidence.
Look up prevailing wages before negotiating
Your employer's LCA must certify a wage at or above the DOL prevailing wage for your specific SOC code and work location. Use the OFLC Wage Search to find the wage level that matches your experience tier before salary discussions begin.
Target federal contractors and research institutions
Federal agencies and federally funded research organizations file H-1B petitions regularly for economist roles and are often cap-exempt or have predictable sponsorship pipelines. Prioritize employers with active LCA filings in your specialty, such as labor economics or macroeconomic analysis.
Filter employers by verified H-1B filing history on Migrate Mate
Search Migrate Mate to identify companies with confirmed H-1B LCA filings for economist job titles. This filters out employers who express openness to sponsorship but have no filing history, saving you from offers that stall at the petition stage.
Clarify your work location before LCA filing
If your role involves remote work or placements at client sites, your employer must file a separate LCA for each worksite county. Confirm the primary and any secondary work addresses before USCIS petition submission to avoid compliance issues.
Request premium processing if your start date is fixed
USCIS premium processing upgrades adjudication to 15 business days. For economist roles tied to a government contract start date or an academic semester, ask your employer to include premium processing in the I-129 filing to avoid timeline risk.
H-1B Visa Economist: Frequently Asked Questions
Does an economist role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
Yes. Economist positions qualify because USCIS defines specialty occupation as requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific field, and economics meets that standard directly. The O*NET occupation profile for economists confirms a typical entry requirement of a master's or doctoral degree, which strengthens the specialty occupation argument further.
Which employers sponsor H-1B visas for economists?
Federal agencies, think tanks, financial institutions, consulting firms, and universities all sponsor H-1B petitions for economists. Federal contractors are particularly active because their project-based hiring aligns with the H-1B's employer-specific structure. You can browse employers with verified LCA filing history for economist roles on Migrate Mate before applying.
How does the DOL prevailing wage apply to economist positions?
Your employer must pay at least the DOL prevailing wage for your SOC code, job duties, and worksite location before filing the LCA. Economist roles span wage levels one through four depending on experience and supervisory responsibility. A mismatch between your actual duties and the wage level cited in the LCA is one of the most common compliance errors in economist H-1B filings.
Can I switch employers mid-H-1B if I get a better economist offer?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules, you can start working for a new employer as soon as your new employer files an H-1B transfer petition, as long as your current status is valid and you've been in H-1B status for at least 180 days. Your new employer must file a new I-129 and LCA specific to your economist role and worksite.
Does my economics degree have to be from a U.S. university?
No. USCIS accepts foreign degrees if they are evaluated as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's degree in economics or a related field. You'll need a credential evaluation from a recognized evaluation service, and your employer's attorney will include the evaluation in the I-129 petition. A three-year bachelor's degree may need supplemental coursework or experience to meet equivalency.