The President of the United States currently makes $400,000 a year, which is set by congress and is one of the highest-paying government jobs out there. But you don’t have to be the president to make six-figures working in the government.
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Government jobs are a great option for folks who want to serve their community while earning a stable income. They're currently boosting job growth with 294,000 new government jobs being added so far in 2024, according to employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and were named one of the next hot jobs in the place of tech jobs for teens and Gen Z by Business Insider.
These don’t only include jobs in the federal government, but also jobs in state and local government, military, public health, infrastructure, administrative, and legislative branch jobs.
Besides the fact that jobs in the public sector are owned and managed by the government rather than private ownership, the job duties themselves aren’t that much different between the two sectors. This is especially true for roles with comparable titles and functions.
There are many high-paying jobs in government, with the highest salary recorded in our Salary Database of $200,000 for civil engineers. They also may provide certain benefits that aren’t available at private companies, such as pensions. Similar to the role of unions for high-paying trade jobs, several government jobs also have a strong union presence, providing collective bargaining power for wages, benefits, and working conditions.
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Key points:
- The highest-paying government jobs are attorneys, air traffic controllers, nurse practitioners, and cybersecurity analysts.
- Not all top-paying government jobs require a degree. Some may hire based on skills, certifications, or experience.
- Contrary to the private sector, all government salaries are publicly shared.
- Browse thousands of more publicly shared salaries on our Salary Database – for both private and public sectors.
9 Highest-Paying Government Jobs That Can Make Over $100k in 2024
Transparency is the name of the game - and we're here for it! Government jobs actually paved the way for salary transparency. Before there were any pay transparency laws set, public sectors were already fighting pay discrimination and have been sharing salary data since the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was enacted in 1966. Now it’s time for us to sink our teeth into some of that juicy data.
After pulling together salary data from the past 2+ years of interviews, our Salary Database, the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, we’ve identified 9 top-earning government jobs in high demand for 2024.
You can find all of the highest government salaries we recorded by filtering for “government” in our Salary Database. Don’t forget to join and add your salary too!
1. Attorney
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Attorneys that work in government have similar responsibilities and duties to private attorneys, but instead of representing individuals or businesses, they represent the government. They usually work for government agencies at the local, state, or federal level, with duties that may include prosecuting criminal cases, providing legal advice to government departments, or drafting and enforcing regulations.
One reason why government attorneys are paid well is the heightened level of responsibility and specialized expertise required for their position. They must holistically understand public law and government procedures, and also be skilled in researching legal issues, drafting legal documents, and preparing reports for governmental use.
Education needed: A Juris Doctor (JD) degree and passing the bar exam.
Median salary: $145,760 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $157,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 8% increase in job growth
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2. Air Traffic Controller
When we take a plane flight anywhere, there are air traffic controllers that work at several different airports to make sure we have a safe trip through coordinating different aircrafts. The only difference for government air traffic controllers is that they typically work for national aviation authorities, such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Many may also come from a military background and bring experience from military air traffic control.
Air traffic controllers undergo extensive training to handle the high-stakes nature of their job and require a specific set of hard skills to perform their day-to-day duties. A few of these skills include knowledge of radar and surveillance systems and the ability to communicate effectively. They must also have exceptional flight data and aerospace management skills.
Education needed: The completion of an associate’s or Bachelor's degree through AT-CTI programs set by the FAA and complete training at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) academy.
Median salary: $137,380 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $170,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 1% increase in job growth
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3. Nurse Practitioner
The demand for government nurse practitioners is skyrocketing. The position was named the best job in 2024 by U.S. News & World Report with a projected 118,600 new jobs by 2032.
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The difference between nurse practitioners that work for the government versus those that work in the private sector is they often work within public health clinics, VA hospitals, or military facilities. Their primary duties are to provide healthcare services, diagnosing and treating patients.
Skills needed to be a successful nurse practitioner are advanced clinical knowledge, proficiency in medical procedures, and expertise in pharmacology. They must also understand the unique needs of military or veteran patients if they work in military settings or Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals.
Education needed: Become a registered nurse (RN) through an accredited nursing program, obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a masters degree, and be board certified.
Median salary: $129,480
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $164,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 38% increase in job growth
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4. Cybersecurity Analyst or Specialist
Positions in cybersecurity are set to soar in the next ten years, especially those in the government. So much so that the national cyber director is openly encouraging the adoption of skill-based hiring to fill these jobs, according to a 2024 press release by The White House.
U.S. government intelligence data is a coveted item by hackers, and cyber security analysts are there to protect it. Analysts typically work for federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Security Agency (NSA), along with the Department of Defence, and state and local governments.
Cybersecurity analysts are experts at securing network infrastructures and protocols, including firewalls and VPNs. They’re also coders that need to write and understand code or for automating tasks, using knowledge of encryption methods to protect sensitive data. A day in the life of one of these analysts may include monitoring and responding to threats, debugging issues, and implementing security measures.
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Education needed: A Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or something similar. Not all jobs may require a degree and may be accepted based on skills and certifications.
Median salary: $120,360 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $153,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 32% increase in job growth
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5. Economist
Government economists work with economic data to inform decision-makers on the economic implications of various policies, such as reducing unemployment or controlling inflation. They typically work at federal government agencies, such as the Departments of Treasury, Commerce, and Labor and the Federal Reserve, state and local governments, and regulatory agencies.
The day-to-day duties include anything from economic data analysis to modeling and predicting outcomes based on various scenarios. They must also know how to conduct research, prepare reports, and provide insights on economic issues.
Education needed: A Bachelor's or Master’s degree in economics, public policy, business, or other related fields.
Median salary: $115,730
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $175,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 6% increase in job growth
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6. Data Scientist
Governments can’t make decisions without understanding their data. That’s where data scientists come in. Due to the demand for data scientists and AI expertise, The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced in 2024 a governmentwide hiring effort.
Their job is to interpret large volumes of data to inform public policy decision-making. Without them, the government wouldn’t know how to optimize government programs and services, improve efficiency, and address societal challenges.
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The daily job duties of a government data scientist include data management and analysis, and interpreting that data to create visual representations and communicate findings to stakeholders.
Education needed: A Bachelor's degree is data science, computer science, engineering, or equivalent area. Some jobs may hire based on skills, experience, and certifications in place of a Bachelor's degree requirement.
Median salary: $108,020 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $160,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 35% increase in job growth
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7. Program Analyst
Government program analysts use data to create policies. Their primary job duty is to evaluate and improve public programs, such as public health and economic development programs, through data analysis and reporting.
Program analysts can be a sort of catch-all job title due to their variety of job responsibilities. Sometimes they have duties that resemble a software engineer with project management skills or being a business analyst that works to improve government processes and functions. The role may vary widely depending on the government agency and program.
Skills needed to become a program analyst include coding skills using various programming languages, and expertise in interpreting data and applying methodologies. They tend to work with tools such as Excel, SAS, database management systems, and project management software.
Education needed: A degree may not be an absolute requirement and may depend on the specific position. However, a Bachelor's degree in relevant fields like public administration, economics, or data science, or becoming a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) or the Certified Analytics Professional (CAP) may be helpful in securing a job.
Median salary: $99,410 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $134,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 10% increase in job growth
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8. Civil Engineer
Civil engineering involves the design, planning, and overseeing the construction and maintenance of infrastructure projects that are vital to our everyday lives. Think of the roads you drive and the buildings you see. They wouldn’t exist without civil engineers.
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Other projects civil engineers oversee in addition to roads and buildings include bridges, water supply systems, wastewater management, railways, airports, tunnels, flood control systems, and park and recreational facilities. Their daily duties include anything from developing and reviewing designs to performing site inspections, and vary based on the project they’re working on.
Education needed: A Bachelor's degree in civil engineering is typically required.
Median salary: $95,890 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $200,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 5% increase in job growth
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9. Budget Analyst
A government budget analyst, also referred to as a budget officer, works for public institutions, such as federal government agencies, and state and local government departments, to help manage and track how money is spent.
Government budgets go through 3 main phases; budget formulation, budget presentation/enactment, and budget execution. Budget analysts assist in these phases by analyzing past spending and future needs, and create budget proposals from their findings. From there, they help government entities stick to their budgets and track their performance.
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Their work is key to everyday public services and programs, such as education, healthcare, and social programs. The budgets they work on could end up deciding things like how much money is allocated to schools or where your tax money goes.
Education needed: A Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, accounting, economics, or statistics is typically required.
Median salary: $84,940 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $117,000
Job outlook (2022-2032): 3% increase in job growth
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How to Break Into Government Jobs
Many government jobs use the same transferable skills for equivalent jobs in the private sector. The skills for breaking into the public sector are no different. You go through the same motions of seeking required education, networking, and gaining experience through internships or entry-level work.
Some government jobs pay on a per-level basis using the General Schedule (GS). There are 15 different grades, starting from GS-1 to GS-15, with GS-15 being the highest-paying classification. How these grades are assigned to different positions are based on the level of responsibility, difficulty, specific hard skills required, and qualifications required. Positions that are classified at a GS-5 and above require a Bachelor's degree, and those above GS-9 require a Master’s degree. Keep these in mind as you look at open jobs and decide what education path you’ll take.
A great way to gain the most relevant experience is by looking for government agencies that have any entry-level positions open, or working contract jobs for companies that contract with the government. They don’t have to be in the specific position you’re going for, especially if you haven’t met all of the qualifications just yet, but can be in adjacent positions with less qualifications while you finish school and work your way up. However, if there is a position that you think you’d be perfect for but don’t meet all the qualifications, apply to it anyway.
To start searching for and applying to government jobs, use USAJOBS, a website managed by the U.S. government for their federal hiring process. Don’t forget to use our list of the most common interview questions and answers when preparing for your interview, and always advocate for yourself and negotiate your salary at any job you work.
We know you’ll land a good one and can’t wait to see what differences you make in our everyday lives!
That wraps it up for this week. Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella, a writer, engineer, and creator of I Like to Dabble and Remote Work Bestie - my blog and podcast for leveling up your money, career, and side hustles. I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the Salary Transparent Street blog (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Linkedin, and Twitter. Chat soon!
If this guide helps you land a higher-paying job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com
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