Industry Economist (Pathways Intern)

Other Agencies and Independent Organizations

District of Columbia, District of Columbia Full-time $85,447 – $111,087 Closes Jul 3, 2026

Summary

This is a developmental Pathways Internship position located in the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) IN WASHINGTON, DC. This vacancy announcement is limited to the first 200 applications received and will close at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the day that we receive the 200th application, or at 11:59PM Eastern Time on the listed closing date, whichever occurs first.

Duties

  • THIS IS A PATHWAYS INTERNSHIP POSITION WHICH MAY CONFER NON-COMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY TO A PERMANENT OR TERM POSITION.
  • RELOCATION EXPENSES WILL NOT BE PAID.
  • THIS VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL ADDITIONAL POSITIONS WITHIN 90 DAYS.
  • MAJOR DUTIES The incumbent participates in the application of economic theory, econometrics, and data analysis to support Commission decision-making regarding policies to advance telecommunications, broadband, spectrum allocation, and emerging communications technology.
  • This position is part of the Pathways Internship Program, designed to provide current students with developmental opportunities that build analytical, research, and policy evaluation skills in telecommunications economics.

Requirements

Please note your resume must thoroughly support your qualifications for this position. Your resume is an integral part of the process for determining if you meet the basic qualifications for the position and determining if you are to be among the best qualified. Must maintain at least half-time enrollment status as defined by your school. Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, you should only report attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. You may verify accreditation at the following website: http:www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html All education claimed will be verified.

REQUIREMENTS Must be actively enrolled in an accredited Economics Ph.D., or equivalent degree program. Candidates must submit a job market paper (a peer reviewed publication, dissertation chapter, working paper, or similar economic research reflecting a written application of their ability to apply economics, econometrics, and/or data analysis), which they may be asked to present if selected for follow-on interviews. Enrolled in a school that has been accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Enrolled at least half-time as defined by your school. Be in good academic standing (i.e., must have at least a 3.0 GPA or its equivalent). US Citizen or if you are not a citizen you must meet one the following criteria: 1. owe permanent allegiance to the United States (for example, natives of American Samoa and Swains Island); 2. be a lawfully admitted for permanent residence and seeking citizenship as outlined in 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)(B); or 3. be admitted as a refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157 or have been granted asylum under 8 .S.C. 1158 and have filed a declaration of intention to become lawful permanent resident and then citizen when eligible.

Education

PART E-OPM Positive Education Requirements Degree: Must be actively enrolled in an economics degree program, that includes at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. OR Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Optional Four Essay Questions At the time of application, applicants have the option of answering the following four short, free-response essay questions. 1. How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. 2. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness?

Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. 3. How would you help advance the President’s Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired. 4. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements?

Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. Applicants will be required to certify that they are using their own words, and did not use a consultant or AI (such as a large language model [LLM]). The responses to each question cannot exceed 200 words per question. *In addition: Candidates must submit a job market paper (a peer reviewed publication, dissertation chapter, working paper, or similar economic research reflecting a written application of their ability to apply economics, econometrics, and/or data analysis), which they may be asked to present if selected for follow-on interviews. What is the Rule of Many The FCC adheres to the Rule of Many.

The Rule of Many means that more than one applicant can be referred to the hiring manager, not just the top few, nor will candidates be placed into scored qualification categories (i.e. Best Qualified, Fully Qualified, Minimally Qualified). Everyone who meets minimum qualifications and scores 70 or higher may be referred, even if many applicants qualify. There is no fixed limit on how many people can be referred.

What this Means for Applicants You do not need to be the highest scorer You do need to meet qualifications and score at least 70 Multiple applicants can be considered fairly Selection is based on overall qualifications, not just test scores Veterans preference applies You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Benefits

The FCC offers a wide range of employee benefits, including: Health Insurance Life Insurance Dental & Vision Insurance Flexible Spending Accounts Long-Term Care Insurance Holidays and Leave Retirement Thrift Savings Plan Transit Benefit Alternative Work Schedule Telecommuting

Required Documents

  • Merit Hiring Plan Resume Requirements In compliance with Executive Order 14170, Reforming the Federal Hiring Process and Restoring Merit to Government Service resumes must not be longer than two pages in length.
  • The resume must address minimum qualifications and other requirements listed in the job announcement.
  • Resumes must include all of the following information outlined below: Contact Information Name and how best to contact you, including email address and phone number.
  • Relevant Work Experience Job Title and Employer (including series and grade for any Federal positions) Start and end dates with month/year (e.g., 05/2019 –08/2022) The number of hours you worked per week Ensure work experience descriptions are aligned with the job announcement and address all required qualifications.
  • Brief descriptions should demonstrate your ability to perform the tasks at the required level as stated in the job announcement.
  • Resumes must be formatted as outlined above.
  • If the two page resume criteria and/or the resume formatting requirement is not met candidates will be rated as ineligible and will not be referred for hiring consideration.
  • Resume Copy of your transcripts showing total credit hours earned and cumulative GPA.
  • Candidates must submit a job market paper (a peer reviewed publication, dissertation chapter, working paper, or similar economic research reflecting a written application of their ability to apply economics, econometrics, and/or data analysis), which they may be asked to present if selected for follow-on interviews.
  • Veterans MUST submit form DD-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," or an SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" plus the proof required by that form.
  • Your resume must clearly document how you meet the specialized experience in order to meet the minimum qualification requirements for this vacancy.
  • Some positions require supplemental document(s).
  • All required supporting documents MUST be received by midnight U.S.
  • Eastern Time of the closing date of the announcement, as specified in this announcement.
  • If you do not submit a required document (e.g. transcripts, etc.) your application will be considered incomplete and you will not receive further consideration.
  • Additionally, you may not receive the special consideration, e.g.
  • Vet's Preference, for which you may be eligible without the appropriate supporting documentation.
  • Once you apply to this vacancy you will be prompted by the system to upload the documents.
  • If you are unable to upload the required documentation, contact the HR Specialist listed on the vacancy announcement prior to 5:00 p.m.
  • Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement.

About this role

The Industry Economist (Pathways Intern) position with the Other Agencies and Independent Organizations is based in District of Columbia, District of Columbia. This is a developmental Pathways Internship position located in the Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) IN WASHINGTON, DC. The role pays $85,447 to $111,087 per year.

Day to day, the work involves THIS IS A PATHWAYS INTERNSHIP POSITION WHICH MAY CONFER NON-COMPETITIVE ELIGIBILITY TO A PERMANENT OR TERM POSITION. The full list of duties, conditions, and required documents appears in the official announcement linked on this page.

Who should apply

This role calls for United States citizenship and the education the announcement specifies. Match your federal resume directly to the announcement's wording so a reviewer can confirm each requirement in writing. For this Industry Economist (Pathways Intern) position with the Other Agencies and Independent Organizations in District of Columbia, District of Columbia, confirm you meet each requirement before applying.

How competitive it is

The posted pay of $85,447 to $111,087 per year places this in a competitive but attainable range for qualified applicants. As an entry or assistant-level position, it is a realistic starting point, and gaining federal status here can open doors to higher-graded roles later. Based in District of Columbia, District of Columbia, it competes within that local market, which can mean lighter competition than major metropolitan postings. The announcement closes on July 3, 2026, and federal postings can close early once enough applications arrive, so applying promptly is wise.

This overview is general guidance from Job Army to help you understand the role. Always read the official announcement for exact duties, qualifications, and requirements before applying.

Job Details

Department Other Agencies and Independent Organizations
Job Type Full-time
Location District of Columbia, District of Columbia
Salary $85,447 – $111,087
Pay Period Per Year
Closing Date Jul 3, 2026
Posted Jun 17, 2026
Source ID PATHWAYS-OEA-2026-003
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