Economist Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship

Economist is a textbook specialty occupation, making H-1B visa sponsorship straightforward from a legal standpoint. Federal agencies, think tanks, consulting firms, universities, and financial institutions all sponsor economists regularly. J-1 visa research scholar visas are also common in academic settings. If you've got a master's or PhD, you're in even stronger position since many economist roles genuinely require advanced degrees. For detailed occupation requirements, see the O*NET profile.

Find Economist Jobs

Overview

Open Jobs46+
Top Visa TypeH-1B
Work Type78% On-site
Top LocationSeattle, WA
Most JobsAmazon.com

Showing 5 of 46+ Economist jobs

US Economist
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New 8h ago
US Economist
Prudential
Newark, New Jersey
Business Analysis
Partnerships & Business Development
Finance
Accounting
Investment Banking & Capital Markets
$145k - $155k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Economist
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New 23h ago
Economist
Amazon.com
Arlington, Virginia
Business Analysis
Data Science & Analytics
Data Science
$129k - $175k/yr
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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Economist, Analyst
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Added 3d ago
Economist, Analyst
Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Business Analysis
Research & Academia
$135k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Economist
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Added 5d ago
Economist
State of Missouri
Jefferson City, Missouri
Business Analysis
Consulting & Professional Services
$57k - $73k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

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Staff Economist
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Added 3w ago
Staff Economist
Wayfair
Mountain View, California
Data Science & Analytics
Strategy & Corporate Development
Project & Program Management
Product Management
Data Science
Business Strategy
Project Management
On-Site
Doctorate
10,000+

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Tips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as an Economist

Target Federal Reserve banks for economist positions

The twelve Federal Reserve regional banks (New York, Chicago, San Francisco, etc.) regularly hire international economists for research and policy roles. These are private institutions that sponsor H-1B visas, and they offer competitive compensation along with strong research environments.

Consider economic consulting firms that sponsor routinely

Firms like Analysis Group, Cornerstone Research, NERA Economic Consulting, and Charles River Associates specialize in litigation and regulatory economics. They hire economists at both the pre-doctoral and post-doctoral levels and have established visa sponsorship processes.

Leverage your Ph.D. for advanced degree H-1B exemption

Economists with a U.S. master's or doctoral degree qualify for the H-1B advanced degree exemption, which provides an additional selection opportunity in the lottery. Given that most economist positions favor advanced degrees, this exemption can meaningfully improve your odds.

Publish working papers to build your EB-1 or NIW case early

Working papers in NBER, SSRN, or Federal Reserve discussion series count as evidence of scholarly contribution. Start building a publication pipeline during graduate school, as a strong body of economic research can support an EB-1A extraordinary ability or EB-2 NIW petition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do employers sponsor H-1B visas for economists?

Yes, economists are frequently sponsored for H-1B visas in the U.S. Federal agencies, economic consulting firms, financial institutions, and universities are the most common sponsors. The SOC code 19-3011 (Economists) is well-established as a specialty occupation requiring at least a bachelor's degree in economics.

Can economists qualify for EB-2 National Interest Waiver green cards?

Economists whose research has demonstrated influence on public policy, trade, or economic development may qualify for an EB-2 NIW. This pathway allows self-petitioning without employer sponsorship. Evidence like published economic analyses, policy citations, government advisory roles, and a Ph.D. in economics can strengthen the case.

How to find Economist jobs with visa sponsorship?

Use Migrate Mate to find Economist positions with visa sponsorship opportunities. Focus on roles at government agencies, research institutions, financial services firms, and multinational corporations that commonly sponsor H-1B, O-1 visa, or EB-2 visas for economists. Target positions in economic research, policy analysis, financial modeling, and consulting where specialized economic expertise is valued and visa sponsorship is more readily available.

Which government agencies hire international economists?

The Federal Reserve System, Bureau of Labor Statistics, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and Congressional Budget Office all hire economists and have sponsored visas. The IMF and World Bank use G-4 visas for international organization employees, which is a separate pathway from H-1B. Federal Reserve regional banks are private institutions that sponsor H-1B petitions.

Is a Ph.D. required for economist visa sponsorship?

A Ph.D. is not strictly required, but it significantly strengthens your candidacy. Most economist positions at research institutions, federal agencies, and top consulting firms prefer or require doctoral training. A master's degree in economics with strong quantitative skills can qualify for H-1B sponsorship at some employers, particularly in the private sector.

What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Economist jobs?

When a U.S. employer sponsors a foreign worker for a work visa, they are legally required to pay at least the "prevailing wage" — the average wage paid to workers in the same occupation, in the same geographic area, with similar experience. This is set by the Department of Labor to prevent employers from hiring foreign workers at below-market rates. The prevailing wage varies significantly by role, location, and experience level — for example, a economist in New York will have a different prevailing wage than the same role in a smaller state. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search.