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Posted: January 7, 2026 (8 days ago)

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Economist

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Department of Commerce

Recent

Location

Salary

$143,913 - $187,093

per year

Closes

January 20, 2026

GS-14 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $104,604 - $135,987

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-13. Senior expert or supervisor.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This job involves working as an economist for a government agency that manages radio frequencies and promotes broadband internet access, focusing on analyzing economic impacts of wireless technologies and advising policymakers on spectrum use.

You'll conduct studies, develop strategies for efficient resource allocation, and support programs that boost internet growth in rural areas.

It's a great fit for someone with strong economics training and experience in telecom policy who enjoys tackling complex technical-economic challenges.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in economics with at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
  • One full year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13 level in federal service
  • Experience serving as a consultant or advisor on technical and economic problems, including cost and demand assessments, fee calculations, and proposals for efficient spectrum use or value
  • Experience formulating, programming, and guiding projects or programs involving economic issues related to wireless networks and services (e.g., radio-communications, satellite communications, broadband wireless)
  • Experience developing reports with strategies or new economic approaches to technical issues for stakeholders or policymakers
  • Ability to conduct policy-oriented research and provide accurate economic analysis and advice to high-level policymakers
  • Proficiency in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting economic information related to RF-spectrum management and wireless telecommunications

Full Job Description

This vacancy is for an Economist in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA )within the Department of Commerce.

Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards.

This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=Occupational-Series Applicants must possess one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and responsibility to the next lower grade level in the Federal Service.

Specialized experience is experience that has equipped the applicant with the particular competencies/knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

This experience need not have been in the federal government.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations e.g., professional; philanthropic, religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies; knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

To qualify at the GS-14 level you must meet the following education and specialized experience: BASIC REQUIREMENT: (Transcripts MUST be provided) A.

Bachelor's degree (or higher) in economics, that included at least 21 semester hours in economics and 3 semester hours in statistics, accounting, or calculus. OR B.

Combination of education and experience: courses equivalent to a major in economics, as shown in A above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: You must possess one full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-13 in the Federal service.

Specialized experience is defined as experience: Serving as a consultant or advisor on technical, economic problems or projects that include cost and demand assessments, calculation of fees, and proposals on the efficient use or value of spectrum; Formulating, programming, and guiding projects or programs involving economic issues related to wireless networks and services (such as radio-communications, satellite communications, or broadband wireless communications etc.); and Developing reports containing strategies or new economic approaches to technical issues for stakeholders' or policymakers' consideration.

Major Duties:

This position is located in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce.

NTIA's programs and policymaking focus largely on expanding the availability of radio-frequency spectrum for all users, managing core Federal radio frequency (RF) spectrum programs effectively and efficiently, identifying innovative approaches to increase RF-spectrum access and sharing opportunities, and ensuring that the Internet remains an engine for continued economic growth, which promotes a 21st century Internet economy in rural communities and expands broadband Internet access and adoption in America.

As an Economist, you will: Serve as an authoritative technical advisor and ensure that high-level policy makers are provided with accurate, meaningful, and properly evaluated economic analysis and advice.

Be responsible for economic studies, which gather, analyze, and interpret economic information specific to the mission of NTIA, which affects the economic well-being of our society.

Formulate programming and guidance of projects or continuing programs involving economic issues affecting RF-spectrum management and wireless telecommunications.

Conduct policy-oriented research and development of innovative approaches to existing and new problems in RF-spectrum management and telecommunication policies.

Develop and present for review new ideas for analysis and presentation of RF-spectrum oriented economic data, including valuation of spectrum.

Identify issues, provide research, and conduct analysis necessary to meet short and long-term policy needs related to RF-spectrum and telecommunications such as regulatory procedures and governance, market based alternatives, technical standards, incentive-based approaches, incumbent rights and responsibilities, RF-spectrum valuation, and wireless broadband deployment.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Economist GS-0110-14, positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/7/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/8/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: NTIA-OSM-DHA-26-12859404