25 Highest Annual Salaries in Government
Searching for a high paying government job? Make sure you're looking in the right places.
Kyle Stone | Associate Editor, GovCentral (Source: OPM)
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re looking for an internship, a job, or a higher salary. This time, we’re attempting to cover all three subjects at once.
Did you know that the 25 highest paying government jobs all pay over $50,000 per year? If not – or if you’d have trouble naming what these 25 jobs might be – this article should be useful, interesting, and entertaining. Below is a list of twenty-five of the most sought after federal jobs, ranked by the Office of Personnel Management as the highest paid jobs currently offered by the US Government (note: these are all major job fields. We did not include "President of the United States).
This article also contains useful information about how you can get an internship related to each job, which departments are hiring, and what level of education a typical hire has attained.
3) Financial Manager – $101,022
4) General Engineer – $100,051
6) Computer Scientist – $90,929
8) Criminal Investigator – $88,174
16) Human Resources Manager – $76,503
17) Health and Safety Specialist – $73,003
18) Air Traffic Controller – $72,049
20) Correctional Officer – $67,140
22) Technical Engineer – $63,951
23) Border Patrol Agent – $63,550
24) Medical Technician- $59,840
25) Customs Inspector – $59,248
karyn2010
almost 3 years ago
2 comments
This information is very helpful. The field's projected growth and employee's needed will help people refine their job searches!
Jhoover1
over 3 years ago
20 comments
Good Article
geochris
over 3 years ago
4 comments
I wouyld like to be a Criminal Investigator, I find that work exciting and interesting. I would like to be part of the process to keep this Country safe from harmful invaders and devious strategic manovers.
subham
almost 4 years ago
2 comments
i want to take agentship for government.
Account Removed
almost 4 years ago
Anyone notice that Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force/Coast Guard are NOT on the list? Those in the lowest three pay grades in the Army qualify for welfare if they have kids. They have a full-time job for cripe's sake! A full-time, dangerous, undervalued job. Several pay grades up into managerial work, I made less than 50K in a year, including all the bonuses for being deployed and in harm's way. Are you kidding me? No wonder we rely on patriotism to man the forces. No one with any sense is in it for the money.
Blanche
over 4 years ago
10 comments
Shocking results! I did not realize the pay scale for any of these positions.
feeleja
over 4 years ago
60 comments
awsome article thanks for posting it
gwhmail
over 4 years ago
2 comments
Public school teachers make very good. They have excellent retirement plans too & get educational reimbursement. Its the teachers aids that do most of the dirty work & get paid dirt too. A Chaplain can make more as he probably does more.
figman
over 4 years ago
2 comments
Just as JRoss questions the government librarian making more than border guards (as rimmer1204 states), I question a government Chaplain making more than a public school teacher.
sweetides
almost 5 years ago
154 comments
This is one of the best articles but I'd like to see a list of the top 25 non-BA jobs!!!!!!!
McConnell
almost 5 years ago
354 comments
Believe it or not, these 25 jobs have actually changed quite a bit from what they work a year ago.
Chris_Cosgriff
almost 5 years ago
16 comments
Were any of these jobs surprising?
taprilgreen
over 5 years ago
2 comments
I have to agree that the pay scale for certain job describitions/duties are questionable in this country. For an example; A nurse's salary is only 22 out of the top 25! It really questions our nation's out look on human life and it's value. And mind you, this is a government website!! What about nation-wide?? Nurses in general have poor salaries. This may be a reason there is a nursing shortage through out the country. The general population are oblivious to how poorly and unfairly the healthcare providers/care givers are treated. It is not recognized how dedicated these health professionals are and what they risk every day for themselves as well as others. What does human life mean to you?
rimmer1204
over 5 years ago
10 comments
This IS a good source to use as a benchmark during a search. I have to agree with JRoss that it is amazing to see that border guards make less than govt. librarians. Why is it that all too often, those whose job duties are the most uncomfortable (or even dangerous) make so much less than those whose job duties comfortable? Of course, the required education level has a lot to do with it, but discomfort and danger should have their own salary gradient curve.
JRoss
over 5 years ago
36 comments
Interesting - I never realized that government librarians made so much!!