How to read these salary pages
A national median is useful for comparison, but it is not a promise of your local starting salary. Use the hub to compare roles, then use the full guide to understand overtime, pension value, locality pay, and experience-driven step increases.
The fastest way to use this page is to scan salary first, outlook second, and then click into the role that feels strongest on both compensation and exam fit.
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Scan pay, growth, and role type faster
Filter by role type or demand, then sort the grid by salary, growth, or name.
8 careers shown
Technical
IT Specialist (Government)
High-demand technical roles with strong federal pay and exceptional job security.
National median
$88,000
Experienced
$118,000
Government IT specialists — particularly at the federal level — are among the best-compensated non-supervisory civil service employees. Federal posi...
Total jobs
176,000
Government office
Public Health Officer
Growing demand across all levels of government with strong mid-career earnings.
National median
$72,000
Experienced
$98,000
Public health officers and managers at city, county, state, and federal agencies saw demand accelerate sharply following the COVID-19 pandemic. Fede...
Total jobs
58,000
Public safety
Police Officer
One of the most competitive and well-compensated entry-level civil service titles.
National median
$70,000
Experienced
$95,000
Police officers and detectives employed by state and local governments earn a strong median salary, with significant upside in high-cost metropolita...
Total jobs
697,000
Human services
Social Worker (Government)
Mission-driven careers with competitive government pay and strong benefits.
National median
$58,000
Experienced
$78,000
Government social workers — in child protective services, adult protective services, mental health agencies, and corrections — typically earn more t...
Total jobs
330,000
Public safety
Firefighter
Strong base pay with exceptional pension and benefits in most jurisdictions.
National median
$54,000
Experienced
$80,000
Firefighter salaries vary widely based on jurisdiction and department size. Career firefighters in large urban departments — particularly in Califor...
Total jobs
331,000
Government office
Postal Worker (USPS)
Solid entry-level federal employment with union-negotiated pay and benefits.
National median
$52,000
Experienced
$66,000
USPS postal workers — carriers, clerks, and mail handlers — earn wages set through collective bargaining with the National Association of Letter Car...
Total jobs
460,000
Public safety
Correction Officer
Steady government pay with strong pension and benefits, especially at state facilities.
National median
$49,000
Experienced
$68,000
Correction officers at state and federal facilities typically earn more than those at local jails, with the gap often exceeding $10,000 annually. Fe...
Total jobs
420,000
Administrative
Administrative Assistant (Government)
Stable government employment with pay that often exceeds the private-sector equivalent.
National median
$47,000
Experienced
$62,000
Government administrative assistants and secretaries consistently earn more than their private-sector counterparts, particularly at the federal leve...
Total jobs
3,400,000
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