Program Evaluation Analyst

Career Guide

A Program Evaluation Analyst measures whether a program is working as intended and how it can be improved. They plan and run evaluations, collect and analyze data, interpret findings, and share clear recommendations with leaders and partners.

Browse All Roles

Key Responsibilities

Define evaluation goals and success measures
Develop evaluation plans and timelines
Design surveys and interview guides
Collect data from program systems and stakeholders
Clean and organize datasets for analysis
Analyze outcomes, trends, and differences across groups
Assess program reach, quality, and participant experience
Summarize findings in reports and presentations
Create practical recommendations for program improvement
Support continuous improvement with regular tracking and updates
Coordinate with program teams to align on data needs
Protect data privacy and follow ethical research practices

Top Skills for Success

Analytical Thinking

Written Communication

Stakeholder Management

Project Management

Survey Design

Interviewing

Data Cleaning

Data Visualization

Impact Measurement

Program Monitoring

Statistics

Research Methods

Privacy Compliance

Grant Reporting

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Senior Program Evaluation Analyst

Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Research Analyst

Data Analyst

Program Manager

Transition Opportunities

Evaluation Manager

Insights Manager

Policy Analyst

Research Manager

Analytics Lead

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Evaluation DesignOutcome DefinitionCausal InferenceStatistical ModelingData VisualizationData Quality ManagementExecutive StorytellingChange Management

Development SuggestionsBuild a small portfolio with one end to end evaluation example. Strengthen core statistics and reporting skills, then practice translating findings into clear decisions for nontechnical audiences.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry LevelUSD 55,000 to 75,000

Mid LevelUSD 75,000 to 100,000

Senior LevelUSD 100,000 to 135,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand, driven by increased focus on accountability, impact measurement, and evidence-based funding across government, healthcare, education, and nonprofits.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

Federal agenciesState and local government departmentsPublic health systemsHealth insurersHospital networksSchool districtsUniversitiesNonprofit organizationsFoundationsInternational development organizationsManagement consulting firmsResearch organizations

Industry Sectors

GovernmentPublic HealthHealthcareEducationNonprofitSocial ServicesInternational DevelopmentConsultingResearch

Recommended Next Steps

Create a one page evaluation plan template you can reuse

Build a sample dashboard that tracks program inputs, outputs, and outcomes

Practice survey writing by drafting a short participant survey and refining questions for clarity

Take a course in statistics and research methods focused on applied program evaluation

Learn one analysis tool deeply and publish a small analysis project

Collect examples of concise reports and replicate the structure for your own work

Prepare interview stories that show how you turned findings into program changes

Join a professional community focused on evaluation and impact measurement