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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Are you excited about using econometrics to make multi-million dollar decisions more Science and Data Driven? Are you interested in supporting Consumer Hardware device concepts from innovative idea inception to launch? Do you want to work on a Economics and Data Science team focused on tackling some of the hardest business questions within the Devices business at Amazon and then scaling those Statistics and Econometrics solutions via internal to Amazon tools? Then this could be the role for you!
The Decision Science team owns demand estimates and pricing recommendations of concept devices before customers know they exist. We support analyses on hardware and services ranging from Echo Frames to Kindle Paperwhite to Blink Video Camera subscriptions to the Amazon Smart Plug - all prior to launch. In this role, you will develop science for high visible senior leadership decisions on new devices and services and work with a cross-functional team to apply and scale innovative science broadly.
Key job responsibilities
- Design, estimate, and scale Berry-Levinsohn-Pakes (BLP) random coefficients demand models to quantify consumer heterogeneity, own- and cross-price elasticities, and substitution patterns across large product markets.
- Implement and optimize numerical routines—including GMM estimation, contraction mappings, and simulation-based inversion—to solve structural demand systems at scale in Python.
- Develop and validate instrumental variables strategies to address price endogeneity in differentiated product markets, ensuring unbiased and robust demand parameter estimates.
- Build production-grade pipelines that ingest large-scale observational datasets, estimate consumer preferences, and generate product-level demand forecasts on recurring schedules.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product management, marketing, and operations to translate structural model outputs—such as willingness-to-pay and competitive diversion ratios—into actionable pricing and portfolio strategies.
- Advance the team's structural modeling capabilities by researching and deploying extensions to classical BLP frameworks (e.g., supply-side estimation, dynamic demand, micro-moments) and documenting approaches in clear technical reports.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD in economics or equivalent
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of industry, consulting, government, or academic research experience
- Knowledge of at least one statistical software package such as R, Stata, Matlab, SAS
- Experience in prediction and forecasting in a research or industrial environment
- Experience with handling of large datasets
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, CA, San Jose - 157,300.00 - 212,800.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
DESCRIPTION
Are you excited about using econometrics to make multi-million dollar decisions more Science and Data Driven? Are you interested in supporting Consumer Hardware device concepts from innovative idea inception to launch? Do you want to work on a Economics and Data Science team focused on tackling some of the hardest business questions within the Devices business at Amazon and then scaling those Statistics and Econometrics solutions via internal to Amazon tools? Then this could be the role for you!
The Decision Science team owns demand estimates and pricing recommendations of concept devices before customers know they exist. We support analyses on hardware and services ranging from Echo Frames to Kindle Paperwhite to Blink Video Camera subscriptions to the Amazon Smart Plug - all prior to launch. In this role, you will develop science for high visible senior leadership decisions on new devices and services and work with a cross-functional team to apply and scale innovative science broadly.
Key job responsibilities
- Design, estimate, and scale Berry-Levinsohn-Pakes (BLP) random coefficients demand models to quantify consumer heterogeneity, own- and cross-price elasticities, and substitution patterns across large product markets.
- Implement and optimize numerical routines—including GMM estimation, contraction mappings, and simulation-based inversion—to solve structural demand systems at scale in Python.
- Develop and validate instrumental variables strategies to address price endogeneity in differentiated product markets, ensuring unbiased and robust demand parameter estimates.
- Build production-grade pipelines that ingest large-scale observational datasets, estimate consumer preferences, and generate product-level demand forecasts on recurring schedules.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product management, marketing, and operations to translate structural model outputs—such as willingness-to-pay and competitive diversion ratios—into actionable pricing and portfolio strategies.
- Advance the team's structural modeling capabilities by researching and deploying extensions to classical BLP frameworks (e.g., supply-side estimation, dynamic demand, micro-moments) and documenting approaches in clear technical reports.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- PhD in economics or equivalent
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 2+ years of industry, consulting, government, or academic research experience
- Knowledge of at least one statistical software package such as R, Stata, Matlab, SAS
- Experience in prediction and forecasting in a research or industrial environment
- Experience with handling of large datasets
Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.
Los Angeles County applicants: Job duties for this position include: work safely and cooperatively with other employees, supervisors, and staff; adhere to standards of excellence despite stressful conditions; communicate effectively and respectfully with employees, supervisors, and staff to ensure exceptional customer service; and follow all federal, state, and local laws and Company policies. Criminal history may have a direct, adverse, and negative relationship with some of the material job duties of this position. These include the duties and responsibilities listed above, as well as the abilities to adhere to company policies, exercise sound judgment, effectively manage stress and work safely and respectfully with others, exhibit trustworthiness and professionalism, and safeguard business operations and the Company’s reputation. Pursuant to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.
The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.
LOCATION
USA, CA, San Jose - 157,300.00 - 212,800.00 USD annually
USA, WA, Seattle - 136,000.00 - 184,000.00 USD annually
See all 52+ H-1B Visa Economist Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new H-1B Visa Economist Jobs.
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.