The Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is looking to hire experienced or new Ph.D. economists in the areas of International Economics, Labor Economics and Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics. For all candidates, solid research achievement and potential are essential. All economists are expected to publish in top academic journals and be able to prepare high-level analysis for Bank policy briefings and publications. Excellent communication skills are required.
The department provides an outstanding research environment and has a proven track record of producing highly cited work. Salary and benefits are competitive. Information about the Research Department may be found at: Economic Research at the SF Fed.
Key Responsibilities:
· Conducts independent and original research on economic issues.
· Conveys the results externally to the academic community and general public through published articles and presentations and internally to the Research Department, Bank President, and Boards of Directors.
· Provides commentary and recommendations on current economic developments and policy issues to senior management and others.
· Works with and mentors Research Associates.
Requirements:
· Economist level: PhD in Economics or Finance.
· Sr. Economist level typically requires four or more years of professional experience, in addition to PhD in Economics or Finance.
· Research Advisor level typically requires eight or more years of professional experience, in addition to PhD in Economics or Finance.
· Sr. Research Advisor level typically requires fifteen or more years of professional experience, in addition to PhD in Economics or Finance.
· This position requires access to confidential FOMC and/or supervisory information, which is limited to "Protected Individuals" as defined in the U.S. federal immigration law. Protected Individuals include, but are not limited to, U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and U.S. permanent residents who either are not yet eligible to apply for naturalization or who have applied for naturalization within the requisite timeframe. Candidates who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents may be eligible for the information access required for this position if they sign a declaration of intent to become a U.S. citizen and lawful permanent resident and meet other eligibility requirements, including NOT being a citizen of a restricted country. The Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls maintains a list of current restricted countries at: https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/ddtc_public?id=ddtc_public_portal_country_landing.
If you are a citizen of a Restricted Country, and you also hold citizenship from a country not on the Restricted Country list, this may help you meet this eligibility requirement.
Base Salary Range – Economist/Sr. Economist: Min: $159,900 – Max $290,900 (Location: San Francisco)
Base Salary Range – Advisor/Sr. Advisor: Min: $230,600 - Max: $406,000 (Location: San Francisco)
Final salary and offer will be determined by the applicant’s background, experience, skills, internal equity, and alignment with geographic and other market data.
Application Instructions:
Complete applications must include a cover letter, CV, and at least one research paper. Candidates with experience should provide a list of references, while new PhDs should have three reference letters.
The application deadline is November 18, 2026. The Research Department plans to hold interviews virtually by early December.
We offer a wonderful benefits package including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Pre-tax Flexible Spending Account, Backup Child Care Program, Pre-Tax Day Care Flexible Spending Account, Paid Family Care Leave, Vacation Days, Sick Days, Paid Holidays, Pet Insurance, Matching 401(k), and Retirement/Pension.
The Bank is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. The SF Fed is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, please let us know at sf.hr.recruitment@sf.frb.org.
Due to the nature of access to sensitive information all final offers are subject to the clearance of an enhanced background check. This enhanced screening will require the following items: academic and employment verifications, FBI fingerprint check (criminal and civil cases), credit check, family history, residential records and foreign travel for the previous 7 years, citizenship verification, reference checks, and personal interview with an investigator and can take between 21 – 60 days to clear.
- Cover letter
- Curriculum vitae
- Job market paper
- Additional paper (optional)
- Other material (in one file) (optional)
- Additional paper (optional)
- Recommenders to be selected: 3 for junior applicants, none for senior applicants