IT Specialist - Cybersecurity (GS-12)
Dept. of Homeland Security
Showing 88,000+ government jobs near you - updated today
Government job listings near you
🏥
Registered Nurse - VA Medical Center
Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Nationwide, USA
Full-Time
Today
Urgent Hiring
PSLF Eligible
Pension
📬
USPS City Carrier Assistant
US Postal Service
Nationwide, USA
Full-Time
1 day ago
Hiring Now
No Experience
Union
👮
Law Enforcement Officer - Federal
Federal Bureau of Prisons / DHS
Nationwide, USA
Full-Time
2 days ago
Federal LE
Pension
Background Req.
📚
Public School Teacher - K-12
State Dept. of Education
Nationwide, USA
Full-Time
Today
State Govt
PSLF Eligible
Pension
🚒
Firefighter / EMT - City
City Fire Department
Your City, USA
Full-Time
3 days ago
Local Govt
Pension
EMT Cert Pref.
🏗️
Civil Engineer - Infrastructure (GS-11)
Army Corps of Engineers
Various Locations
Full-Time
4 days ago
📊
Budget Analyst - Federal (GS-9)
Office of Management and Budget
Washington, DC
Full-Time
5 days ago
Federal GS-9
Hybrid
Pension + TSP
Browse by sector
Government job sectors hiring near you
Why government?
What government jobs offer that private employers don't
🏦
Defined benefit pension
Federal employees get FERS, a pension calculated on years of service and salary. After 30 years, many employees receive 30 to 40% of their highest salary for life. Private employers eliminated pensions decades ago.
❤️
Federal health benefits
FEHB covers health, dental, and vision. The government pays 70 to 75% of your premium. You pick from over 200 plan options. Coverage continues into retirement at the same subsidised rate.
🎓
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Work any qualifying government job for 10 years while making income-driven repayments, and the remaining balance of your student loans is forgiven tax-free. Worth tens of thousands for many employees.
🛡️
Job security
Federal employees have strong civil service protections. Layoffs are rare and procedurally difficult. During recessions that hammer private-sector employment, government jobs hold steady.
Government jobs near me - 2026 guide
The federal government is the largest single employer in the USA with over 2.9 million civilian employees. Add state and local government and the total reaches 22 million - roughly 15% of the entire US workforce. If you're looking for stability, a pension, and benefits that private employers stopped offering 30 years ago, government work is worth a serious look.
The catch: government hiring is slow. Federal applications often take 3 to 6 months from posting to offer. State and local processes are faster but still slower than private sector. Plan ahead if you're targeting a government role - don't wait until you're desperate.
Federal vs state vs local government jobs
Federal jobs offer the most comprehensive benefits package and the most consistent pay scales nationwide through the General Schedule (GS) system. USAJOBS.gov is the official source for all federal openings. State government jobs vary enormously by state - California and New York state employees have excellent packages, while others are more modest. Local government (cities, counties, school districts, fire departments) is the most accessible entry point and often the fastest to hire.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you have student loan debt, government employment is one of the most powerful financial moves you can make. Any qualifying government employer counts for PSLF. After 120 payments on an income-driven plan (10 years), the remaining balance is forgiven tax-free. A nurse with $80,000 in loans who goes to work at a VA hospital can have that balance wiped out 10 years earlier than a private-sector peer. VA nursing roles, public school teaching, and government healthcare are all PSLF-qualifying positions.
How to apply for government jobs near you
Federal jobs all go through USAJOBS.gov. Create an account, upload your federal resume (longer and more detailed than a private-sector resume - include all duties, not just highlights), and complete the occupational questionnaire for each position. State and local jobs are on individual agency websites. Many states also use NeoGov as their applicant tracking system. Set up job alerts on USAJOBS and your state portal so you don't miss new postings.
Common questions
Government jobs near me - FAQs
Federal GS-5 entry roles start at $33K-$43K. GS-9 to GS-12 mid-level roles pay $55K-$95K. GS-13 to GS-15 senior roles pay $100K-$160K plus locality pay. USPS carriers earn $19-$26/hr. VA nurses earn $75K-$110K. State and local salaries vary by role and region.
Federal jobs are all on USAJOBS.gov. Create an account, upload your federal resume, and complete the questionnaire for each position you apply to. State and local jobs are on individual agency websites. Many states use NeoGov as their applicant system. Set up alerts so you don't miss new postings.
USPS carrier, VA healthcare workers, federal IT and cybersecurity specialists, public school teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters, civil engineers (infrastructure), and social workers are the largest hiring categories in 2026. Use the sector grid above to find current openings in each category.
Yes. Any full-time position at a federal, state, local, or tribal government employer qualifies for PSLF. After 10 years of qualifying payments on an income-driven repayment plan, your remaining federal student loan balance is forgiven tax-free. VA nursing, public school teaching, and government IT roles all qualify.
Federal employees get a defined benefit pension, FEHB health coverage (70-75% employer-paid), the Thrift Savings Plan with employer contributions, 13-26 days annual leave, 13 sick days, 11 federal holidays, life insurance, and flexible spending accounts. It's the most comprehensive benefits package available in the US labour market.
Related jobs