Spring 2026 State Fiscal Policy Research Intern

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) is a high-caliber strategic policy institute that informs and shapes public policies to reduce poverty, promote equity, and build opportunity. It has a national reputation for conducting rigorous research and analysis, developing evidence-based policy ideas and strategies, shaping a broad array of policy debates at the federal and state levels, and influencing policy outcomes on a range of critical issues. It focuses on improving the lives of people with low or moderate incomes and examines how policies affect particular groups, including Black, Indigenous, and other people of color; immigrants; people with disabilities; and LGBTQ people. CBPP is known for its unique capacity to blend rigorous, timely analysis with effective communications that enable policymakers and the media to make use of its work.    

The State Fiscal Policy (SFP) team conducts research and analysis of tax and budget developments in the states, with a focus on how they affect low-income families and individuals and build antiracist, equitable, and inclusive communities and economies. SFP’s areas of research include state budget and tax reform, taxes and state economies, anti-poverty programs, criminal justice, higher education, K-12 education, and immigration. The team’s recent work can be found here. SFP also coordinates and provides in-depth assistance to the State Priorities Partnership, a nationwide network of state-level policy organizations. 

Interns are an integral part of the SFP team and work closely with CBPP’s state policy analysts. Tasks may include tracking budget and tax developments in states, summarizing research on tax and budget issues, performing data analysis in Excel using government and other datasets, drafting policy memos and other research materials, and attending briefings and events on topics of interest. Interns routinely contribute to public-facing materials such as papers, blogs, and presentations. Interns will also have a chance to assume a significant role in a research project that aligns with team goals and the intern’s policy interests. Lastly, while interns share core responsibilities year-round, particular focus areas of the role are often tailored to the shifting needs of the SFP team.  

 
Qualifications:  

• Experience in policy analysis, data analysis, issue advocacy, or public finance. Previous work focusing on public policies that reduce poverty and build antiracist, equitable, and inclusive communities and economies is a plus.
• Strong interest in CBPP’s mission, particularly state tax and budget issues.
• Prior personal, professional, or community experience that demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Quantitative skills and experience working with Excel. Experience with Stata or R is a plus but not required.
• Strong writing skills.
• Experience coordinating events is a plus.
• Education: preference for recent graduates or graduate students with a major/coursework in public policy, public administration, public health, political science, or a related field.

Successful interns will have a commitment to CBPP’s mission to improve the well-being of low- and moderate-income people and advance racial equity.    

To expand the diversity of voices that speak with authority in federal and state policy debates, CBPP’s internship program identifies highly motivated candidates — particularly those with experience with communities that are underrepresented in policy debates — with a demonstrated interest in working on public policies that affect low-income and diverse communities and have implications for racial equity.  

International students are welcome to apply. The Center does not provide financial sponsorship for visas or work permits. You must have documentation of work authorization for the U.S. AND a U.S. Social Security number, as of the start date of the internship, to be employed by the Center. 

Application Deadline: October 24, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET         

Internship Start Date: January 13, 2026      

Internship End Date: May 8, 2026 

CBPP’s spring internship will be remote. Remote interns must be in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. Interns located in the Washington, D.C. metro area during the spring term may have the option to work on a hybrid schedule that includes at least two days per week in person at our D.C. office.  

Work Hours: Interns should be available between 30-40 hours per week during core Eastern Time business hours. Work schedules can be flexed to accommodate time zone differences as well as classwork and other school commitments. 

Compensation:          

• Undergraduate students receive $18.00 per hour.        
• Students with a bachelor's degree receive $19.00 per hour.        
• Graduate students receive $20.00 per hour.        
• Students with a master’s or law degree receive $21.00 per hour.         
• Doctoral students may receive between $20.00 and $22.00 per hour, depending on progress toward completion of degree requirements, relevant coursework, and research.  

Required application materials:    

•  Cover letter — in addition to explaining your qualifications for the position as noted above, please answer the following questions: 
  • What draws you to CBPP’s mission and to state and/or local tax and budget issues in particular?
  • What topic(s) related to state taxes and budgets are you specifically excited to learn about? 
• Résumé 
• Short policy writing sample such as a blog, brief, X/Bluesky thread, or academic paper (or an excerpt of an academic paper) no more than three pages long