Research Associates is a two-year, full-time role in the San Francisco Fed’s Economic Research Department. Associates support economists with data, programming, academic research, and monetary-policy work across several fields of economics.
The 2027 cohort works in person in the San Francisco Bay Area and is intended for graduates considering advanced study or research careers. Applications are open and reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.
Benefits & funding
- The base salary is $80,000 for the in-office San Francisco position.
- The full benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, matching 401(k), and a retirement pension.
- Tuition assistance supports selected graduate and undergraduate courses in economics, mathematics, statistics, and related areas at UC Berkeley and Stanford.
- The two-year role offers work with multiple staff economists and opportunities to coauthor SF Fed Economic Letters.
Eligibility
- Applicants need an undergraduate degree or equivalent completed by July 2027, with a strong quantitative background in econometrics, statistics, mathematics, or computer programming.
- Applicants need a demonstrated interest in economics or finance and strong written and oral communication skills.
- Experience or proficiency with R, Stata, MATLAB, or Python is required; other programming experience is an advantage.
- Applicants must qualify as Protected Individuals under U.S. federal immigration law and must not need immigration sponsorship now or later; students in F-1 or J-1 status are ineligible.
- Previous Research Assistant experience is an advantage but is not required.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor
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Application process
- 1Prepare a resume, cover letter, undergraduate transcript, and optional writing sample as PDF files.
- 2Upload the resume and all supplemental documents during the initial Workday resume-upload step, before submitting the application.
- 3Arrange for at least one recommender to send a recommendation letter directly to SF.ER.RARecruiting@sf.frb.org.
- 4Submit through the Federal Reserve System Workday portal; applications sent directly by email are not accepted.
Program timeline
The annual recruiting cycle typically opens.
Late August 2026
Applications are reviewed.
Rolling through October 2026 or until all roles are filled
Positions typically start.
June/July 2027