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25 Highest Annual Salaries in Government

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.

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=2”>1) Astronomer – $116,072

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=3”>2) Attorney – $114,240

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=4”>3) Financial Manager – $101,022

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=5”>4) General Engineer – $100,051

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=6”>5) Economist – $94,098

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=7”>6) Computer Scientist – $90,929

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=7”>7) Chemist – $89,954

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=7”>8) Criminal Investigator – $88,174

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=7”>9) Microbiologist – $87,206

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=7”>10) Architect – $85,690

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=8”>11) Statistician – $81,524

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=8”>12) Librarian – $78,665

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=8”>13) Accountant – $78,030

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=8”>14) Chaplain – $76,511

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=8”>15) Ecologist – $76,511

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=9”>16) Human Resources Manager – $76,503

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=9”>17) Health and Safety Specialist – $73,003

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=9”>18) Air Traffic Controller – $72,049

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=9”>19) Budget Analyst – $71,267

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=9”>20) Correctional Officer – $67,140

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=10”>21) Nurse – $65,345

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=10”>22) Technical Engineer – $63,951

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=10”>23) Border Patrol Agent – $63,550

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=10”>24) Medical Technician- $59,840

<a href= “http://govcentral.monster.com/careers/1250-25-highest-annual-salaries-in-government?page=10”>25) Customs Inspector – $59,248


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  • Penguins_max50

    Jhoover1

    18 days ago

    20 comments

    Good Article

  • Steves_time_050_max50

    geochris

    3 months 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.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    subham

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    i want to take agentship for government.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Account Removed

    5 months 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.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    Blanche

    12 months ago

    10 comments

    Shocking results! I did not realize the pay scale for any of these positions.

  • Surf1223_max50

    feeleja

    about 1 year ago

    58 comments

    awsome article thanks for posting it

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    gwhmail

    about 1 year 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.

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    figman

    about 1 year 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.

  • Al_nov_2008_max50

    sweetides

    about 1 year 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!!!!!!!

  • Bald-eagle-head_max50

    McConnell

    about 1 year ago

    350 comments

    Believe it or not, these 25 jobs have actually changed quite a bit from what they work a year ago.

  • Capitol_dome_max50

    Chris_Cosgriff

    about 1 year ago

    16 comments

    Were any of these jobs surprising?

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    taprilgreen

    about 1 year 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?

  • P1010039_max50

    rimmer1204

    about 1 year 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.

  • Greek_max50

    JRoss

    about 1 year ago

    36 comments

    Interesting - I never realized that government librarians made so much!!