Ranked list · 48 careers

48 Government Careers, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)

Political Scientist tops this list at $142,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with -2.0% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 48 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.

Careers on this list: 48From 1,731 in the bank
Median pay on the list: $80,730BLS OEWS, May 2025
Projected to grow: 34 of 48BLS EP, 2025–2035
Openings a year: 1,618,500Combined, BLS EP

Method

How we built this list

Careers typically employed by federal, state or local government: public safety, regulators, inspectors, postal and tax roles, legislators and the people who run public services. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.

The list

The top 48 government careers

100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.

1
1. Political Scientist
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$142,080median a year
Growth
−2.0%
Openings / yr
400
Education
Master's
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.
2
2. City Manager
Specialty within general and operations manager
Median pay
$135,140typical, ICMA CAO Salary and Compensation Survey (2019 edition)
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
285,000
Education
Master's
Runs the day-to-day operations of a city or county government for the elected council, overseeing departments, budgets and staff.
3
3. Public Works Director
Specialty within general and operations manager
Median pay
$105,770median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.0%
Openings / yr
285,000
Education
Bachelor's
Leads a city or county department that builds and maintains streets, water and sewer systems, storm drains, trash collection and public buildings.
4
4. Defense Acquisition Program Manager
Specialty within project management specialist
Median pay
$102,320median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.7%
Openings / yr
76,500
Education
Bachelor's
Manages the cost, schedule and performance of a military system, such as an aircraft, ship, satellite or software program, from requirement to fielding.
5
5. Foreign Service Officer
Specialty within management analyst
Median pay
$101,860median (parent occupation)
Growth
+10.1%
Openings / yr
94,100
Education
Bachelor's
A U.S. diplomat who represents the country at embassies and consulates abroad, working in consular, economic, political, management or public diplomacy roles.
6
6. Legislative Director
Specialty within management analyst
Median pay
$101,860median (parent occupation)
Growth
+10.1%
Openings / yr
94,100
Education
Bachelor's
Leads policy and legislation for a member of Congress or a state legislator, advising on votes, drafting bills and managing policy staff.
7
7. Transportation Planner
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$101,110median a year
Growth
−0.2%
Openings / yr
2,700
Education
Bachelor's
Prepare studies for proposed transportation projects.
8
8. Bridge Engineer
Specialty within civil engineer
Median pay
$100,840median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.4%
Openings / yr
22,700
Education
Bachelor's
Designs, analyzes and plans repairs for highway, rail and pedestrian bridges, making sure they carry their loads safely for decades.
9
9. Traffic Engineer
Specialty within transportation engineer
Median pay
$100,840median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.4%
Openings / yr
22,700
Education
Bachelor's
Designs traffic signals, intersections, signs and street layouts that move people safely and keep congestion and crashes down.
10
10. Postmaster
Management
Median pay
$96,660median a year
Growth
−0.3%
Openings / yr
900
Education
High school
Plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and support services of a U.S.
11
11. Intelligence Operations Officer
Specialty within intelligence analyst
Median pay
$93,790median (parent occupation)
Growth
+0.2%
Openings / yr
7,800
Education
Bachelor's
Recruits and handles human sources overseas to collect foreign intelligence for the U.S. government.
12
12. Open Source Intelligence Analyst
Specialty within intelligence analyst
Median pay
$93,790median (parent occupation)
Growth
+0.2%
Openings / yr
7,800
Education
Bachelor's
Gathers and analyzes publicly available information, from social media and satellite imagery to corporate records, to answer intelligence and security questions.
13
13. First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers
Protective Service
Median pay
$93,530median a year
Growth
+3.7%
Openings / yr
6,600
Education
Certificate
Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in firefighting and fire prevention and control.
14
14. Emergency Management Director
Management
Median pay
$93,330median a year
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
1,100
Education
Bachelor's
Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or te…
15
15. Affordable Housing Developer
Specialty within urban and regional planner
Median pay
$89,320median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
3,200
Education
Master's
Puts together the land, financing, design and approvals to build or preserve apartments that low and moderate income households can afford.
16
16. Floodplain Manager
Specialty within urban and regional planner
Median pay
$89,320median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
3,200
Education
Master's
Enforces local flood rules, reviews building in flood zones and helps a community keep its standing in the National Flood Insurance Program.
17
17. Hazard Mitigation Planner
Specialty within urban and regional planner
Median pay
$89,320median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
3,200
Education
Master's
Studies a community's flood, wildfire, earthquake and storm risks and writes the plans and grant projects that reduce damage before the next disaster.
18
18. Transit Planner
Specialty within urban and regional planner
Median pay
$89,320median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
3,200
Education
Master's
Plans bus and rail routes, schedules and stops for a public transit agency, using ridership data and community input to decide where service goes.
19
19. Urban and Regional Planner
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Median pay
$89,320median a year
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
3,200
Education
Master's
Develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities of jurisdictions, such as towns, cities, counties, and metropolitan areas.
20
20. Facility Security Officer
Specialty within security management specialist
Median pay
$83,050median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
98,700
Education
Bachelor's
Runs the security program a defense contractor needs to hold a facility clearance and work on classified government contracts.
21
21. Personnel Security Adjudicator
Specialty within security management specialist
Median pay
$83,050median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.9%
Openings / yr
98,700
Education
Bachelor's
Reviews background investigations and decides whether a person can be trusted with a security clearance or a sensitive government job.
22
22. ADA Coordinator
Specialty within equal opportunity representative and officer
Median pay
$80,730median (parent occupation)
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
32,700
Education
Bachelor's
Makes sure a city, agency, university or company meets the Americans with Disabilities Act, handling accommodation requests, complaints and access plans.
23
23. Compliance Officer
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$80,730median a year
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
32,700
Education
Bachelor's
Examine, evaluate, and investigate eligibility for or conformity with laws and regulations governing contract compliance of licenses and permits, and perform other compliance and enforcement inspection and analysis ac…
24
24. Equal Opportunity Representative and Officer
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$80,730median a year
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
32,700
Education
Bachelor's
Monitor and evaluate compliance with equal opportunity laws, guidelines, and policies to ensure that employment practices and contracting arrangements give equal opportunity without regard to race, religion, color, na…
25
25. Government Property Inspector and Investigator
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$80,730median a year
Growth
+3.8%
Openings / yr
32,700
Education
Bachelor's
Investigate or inspect government property to ensure compliance with contract agreements and government regulations.
26
26. Community Land Trust Director
Specialty within social and community service manager
Median pay
$80,390median (parent occupation)
Growth
+7.2%
Openings / yr
18,500
Education
Bachelor's
Runs a nonprofit that owns land permanently for the community and keeps homes on it affordable for each new owner who buys.
27
27. Parks and Recreation Director
Specialty within entertainment and recreation manager, except gambling
Median pay
$79,520median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.0%
Openings / yr
5,100
Education
Bachelor's
Leads a city or county parks department, managing parks, trails, pools, recreation centers, programs and the staff who run them.
28
28. Contracting Officer
Specialty within purchasing agent, except wholesale, retail, and farm products
Median pay
$77,710median (parent occupation)
Growth
+6.0%
Openings / yr
47,200
Education
Bachelor's
Holds the legal authority to sign, change and end government contracts, and runs the competitions that decide which companies win federal work.
29
29. Lobbyist
Specialty within public relations specialist
Median pay
$74,750median (parent occupation)
Growth
+1.8%
Openings / yr
23,000
Education
Bachelor's
Advocates for a company, association or cause with legislators and government officials to shape laws, regulations and funding.
30
30. Public Information Officer
Specialty within public relations specialist
Median pay
$74,750median (parent occupation)
Growth
+1.8%
Openings / yr
23,000
Education
Bachelor's
Serves as the official voice of a government agency, police or fire department, briefing the media and public, especially during emergencies.
31
31. Boiler Inspector
Specialty within construction and building inspector
Median pay
$74,690median (parent occupation)
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
14,800
Education
High school
Inspects boilers and pressure vessels in factories, hospitals, schools and power plants to prevent explosions and confirm they meet code.
32
32. Bridge Inspector
Specialty within construction and building inspector
Median pay
$74,690median (parent occupation)
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
14,800
Education
High school
Climbs, rappels and boats under highway bridges to inspect their condition and flag deterioration before it becomes a safety problem.
33
33. Certified Access Specialist
Specialty within construction and building inspector
Median pay
$74,690median (parent occupation)
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
14,800
Education
High school
Inspects buildings, parking lots and sidewalks for compliance with accessibility codes and writes reports on what must change for people with disabilities.
34
34. Certified Welding Inspector
Specialty within construction and building inspector
Median pay
$74,690median (parent occupation)
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
14,800
Education
High school
Inspects welds on bridges, buildings, pipelines, ships and pressure equipment to confirm they meet codes and will not fail in service.
35
35. Construction and Building Inspector
Construction and Extraction
Median pay
$74,690median a year
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
14,800
Education
High school
Inspect structures using engineering skills to determine structural soundness and compliance with specifications, building codes, and other regulations.
36
36. Elevator Inspector
Specialty within construction and building inspector
Median pay
$74,690median (parent occupation)
Growth
0.0%
Openings / yr
14,800
Education
High school
Inspects and tests elevators, escalators and wheelchair lifts to make sure they meet safety codes before they carry the public.
37
37. Grants Management Specialist
Specialty within fundraiser
Median pay
$72,550median (parent occupation)
Growth
+5.5%
Openings / yr
10,000
Education
Bachelor's
Manages the money, rules and reports behind government and foundation grants after they are awarded, for agencies, universities and nonprofits.
38
38. Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate
Business and Financial Operations
Median pay
$67,960median a year
Growth
+3.5%
Openings / yr
5,200
Education
Bachelor's
Appraise real estate, exclusively, and estimate its fair value.
39
39. Transportation Security Screener
Protective Service
Median pay
$66,770median a year
Growth
−4.2%
Openings / yr
4,500
Education
High school
Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, or cargo to ensure compliance with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations.
40
40. FOIA Officer
Specialty within paralegal
Median pay
$62,890median (parent occupation)
Growth
−0.3%
Openings / yr
40,800
Education
Associate's
Handles public requests for government records under the Freedom of Information Act and state open records laws, deciding what must be released and what can be withheld.
41
41. Postal Service Clerk
Office and Administrative Support
Median pay
$62,130median a year
Growth
−0.3%
Openings / yr
5,300
Education
No formal credential
Perform any combination of tasks in a United States Postal Service (USPS) post office, such as receive letters and parcels; sell postage and revenue stamps, postal cards, and stamped envelopes; fill out and sell money…
42
42. Military Chaplain
Specialty within clergy
Median pay
$60,810median (parent occupation)
Growth
+2.4%
Openings / yr
19,200
Education
Master's
Serves as a commissioned officer providing religious services, counseling and moral guidance to service members and their families.
43
43. Postal Service Mail Carrier
Office and Administrative Support
Median pay
$60,550median a year
Growth
−0.3%
Openings / yr
19,600
Education
No formal credential
Sort and deliver mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS).
44
44. Firefighter
Protective Service
Median pay
$59,280median a year
Growth
+3.7%
Openings / yr
26,800
Education
Certificate
Control and extinguish fires or respond to emergency situations where life, property, or the environment is at risk.
45
45. Traffic Technician
Transportation and Material Moving
Median pay
$59,090median a year
Growth
+4.0%
Openings / yr
900
Education
High school
Conduct field studies to determine traffic volume, speed, effectiveness of signals, adequacy of lighting, and other factors influencing traffic conditions, under direction of traffic engineer.
46
46. Postal Service Mail Sorter, Processor, and Processing Machine Operator
Office and Administrative Support
Median pay
$58,470median a year
Growth
−5.3%
Openings / yr
7,300
Education
No formal credential
Prepare incoming and outgoing mail for distribution for the United States Postal Service (USPS).
47
47. Eligibility Interviewer, Government Programs
Office and Administrative Support
Median pay
$54,210median a year
Growth
+1.6%
Openings / yr
12,700
Education
High school
Determine eligibility of persons applying to receive assistance from government programs and agency resources, such as welfare, unemployment benefits, social security, and public housing.
48
48. Public Safety Telecommunicator
Office and Administrative Support
Median pay
$53,040median a year
Growth
+3.7%
Openings / yr
9,000
Education
High school
Operate telephone, radio, or other communication systems to receive and communicate requests for emergency assistance at 9-1-1 public safety answering points and emergency operations centers.

Questions

Government Careers: FAQ

What is the top career on the government careers list?

Political Scientist leads the list with a median wage of $142,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of -2.0% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is master's.

How was this list put together?

Careers typically employed by federal, state or local government: public safety, regulators, inspectors, postal and tax roles, legislators and the people who run public services. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers typically employed by federal, state or local government: public safety, regulators, inspectors, postal and tax roles, legislators and the people who run public services. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.

How much do government careers pay?

Across the 48 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $80,730 a year, from $53,040 at the bottom to $142,080 at the top (BLS OEWS May 2025 and the industry compensation sources cited on each career page). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.

How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?

16 of the 48 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).