As the nation’s largest employer, the U.S. government offers a wide range of job opportunities across multiple sectors.
Professionals have opportunities across a wide range of fields, including law enforcement, healthcare, education, engineering, and business. Job roles vary from administrative and technical positions to specialized careers in areas such as cybersecurity and public health.
With more than 2.1 million federal employees, the U.S. government provides not only job stability and comprehensive benefits, but also the opportunity to make a meaningful difference. By shaping public policy and delivering vital services, federal workers play a key role in serving the nation. This sector appeals to professionals driven to create lasting impact while building fulfilling careers in public service.
Working for the government offers a range of benefits that make it an appealing career path for many. One of the most significant advantages is job stability—federal positions are generally more secure than those in the private sector, especially during economic downturns. This stability means government employees are less likely to face layoffs during recessions.
In addition to job security, public sector roles often come with comprehensive benefits packages. These typically include health insurance, retirement plans, and generous policies for vacation and sick leave. Employees may participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which offers a variety of health insurance options, as well as the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a retirement savings program similar to a 401(k).
President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to dramatically shrink the federal government by establishing a new advisory group called the “Department of Government Efficiency.” The group will be led by billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and is tasked with overhauling government operations. Its stated goals include dismantling bureaucratic structures, slashing excessive regulations, eliminating wasteful spending, and restructuring federal agencies.
Ramaswamy has voiced strong support for deep government downsizing, while Musk has proposed cutting the number of federal agencies by as much as 75%. However, any significant changes to federal funding or agency budgets would still require approval from Congress.
Government Jobs
According to data from the government watchdog group Open the Books, these 10 federal agency positions in the public sector each have salaries exceeding $300,000.
