Great Paying Government Jobs

Looking for a cool new career? Then start looking at government jobs.

Author:
Seth Fiegerman
Publish date:
Feb 4, 2010 7:00 AM EST

Looking for a cool new career? Then start looking at government jobs.

I believe any position with the FBI at the end of it just has to sound so much cooler. But Special Agent already sounds pretty sweet. The FBI is currently accepting applications for this position through the end of September this year. According to the job description, “As an FBI Special Agent you may work on matters including terrorism, foreign counterintelligence, cyber crime, organized crime, white-collar crime, public corruption, civil rights violations, financial crime, bribery, bank robbery, extortion, kidnapping, air piracy, interstate criminal activity, fugitive and drug-trafficking matters, and other violations of federal statutes.” Awesome. Annual Salary: $57,000 and $74,000 Photo Credit: Wikimedia.org

This position may not sound quite as spectacular as Special Agency but 1) It’s still at the FBI and 2) It pays more than $100,000. This job “includes the procurement of equipment, hardware/software maintenance, training, design changes, long range planning, and all other system integration within the division.” The FBI started accepting applications for this position earlier this week and will only continue to do so through Feb. 16, so hurry up. Annual Salary: $123,000 and $155,000 Photo Credit: cliff1066

To all the engineers out there who may have been labeled as nerds in college (or anytime thereafter), may I suggest you try out to be an aerospace engineer? This job entails designing and developing civil aircrafts, but you’re bound to get some good stories while working here, which you can use later at parties. The Department of Transportation just started accepting applications for this position earlier in the week and will continue to do so through Feb. 23. Annual Salary: $91,000 and $141,000 Photo Credit: nasa.gov

For all the struggling journalists out there. We found a position as a writer and editor at the Securities and Exchange Commission that pays as much as $171,000. What do you have to do? Just proofread and update materials related to the financial services industry. Not too shabby. They are currently accepting applications from now through Feb. 8, so hurry up! Annual Salary: $96,000 - $171,000 Photo Credit: alex-s

Maybe I just have a secret fascination with Indiana Jones, but for whatever reason, the idea of being an archaeologist has always appealed to me. According to the job description, “You will provide expert advice, assistance, and guidance for preservation, public interpretation, and research related to archeological resources in the United States and beyond. The duties will involve work regarding units of the National Park system, as well as archaeological projects, programs, and resources related to other Federal agencies, Indian tribes, and other public agencies.” The Department of the Interior is accepting applications until Feb. 15. Annual Salary: $73,000 and $113,000 Photo Credit: liako

Wildlife Biologist is a pretty sweet job title, but the person who gets hired by this position also gets the title of Grizzly Bear Habitat Coordinator. According to the job description, the employee acts as “a principle liaison for grizzly bear management among the Forest Service's Northern Region, Rocky Mountain Region, and Intermountain Region.” The Department of Agriculture is accepting applications until Feb. 12. Don’t let this one pass you by. Annual Salary: $68,000 and $89,000 Photo Credit: nasaimages.org

Finally, a job for all you James Bond wannabes out there. According to the job description, the Intelligence Officer “monitors/conductsfull-cycle complex national level operations... Projects worked include those which develop counter-Intelligence concerns, or are conducted in high threat areas such as those areas with limited safe haven or official U.S. representations.” You can take your time deciding about this position. The Defense Intelligence Agency is accepting applications through January 2011. Annual Salary: $89,000 and $136,000 Photo Credit: army.mil

The person who gets this position has the all-important task of controlling fire. You’re like Prometheus, except you make a nice paycheck. The Fire Management Officer “coordinates and directs fire prevention, detection, and suppression operations.” The Department of Agriculture is accepting applications until June 4. Annual Salary: $67,000 and $104,000 Photo Credit: Edward Vielmetti

Albert Einstein started out doing this, and look how well it turned out for him. The Patent Examiner analyzes incoming applications, so you’re bound to get some interesting reading. We’ve written before about some of the craziest inventions that have been patented, and that doesn’t even begin to touch on the ideas that are actually too crazy to be patented. The Patent and Trademark Office is hiring for this position until Feb. 16. Annual Salary: $69,000 and $90,000 Photo Credit: cytech

There are plenty of openings for pilots across the country. Unfortunately, many of these positions do not pay very well, but if you’re the kind of person who has always wanted to fly, then perhaps the position will make up for the paycheck. Annual Salary: $46,000 and $67,000 Photo Credit: *hoodrat*

As far as I’m concerned, NASA is the final frontier for ambitious employment. Obama may be cutting out the moon program, but the budget in general is healthy there. According to the job description, you will be responsible for “conceiving, conducting and directing research using optical and infrared or radio-frequency techniques to define the orbital debris environment.” So maybe you’ll be the first one to spot crazy stuff like this. NASA is accepting applications for this position until Feb. 19. Annual Salary: $92,000 and $120,000 Photo Credit: nasa.gov

If you’re looking for something more business-centered that doles out a nice paycheck, try applying to be the director of NASA’s financial management division. Plus, you still get to say you work for NASA. According to the job description, the director “leads the system control and reporting of all Agency fiscal resources and financial performance measurement.” Annual Salary: $119,000 and $165,000 Photo Credit: http2007

Despite claims to the contrary, the United States will likely have some troops in Afghanistan for more than another year. And we certainly will be intimately involved with the affairs of the country for a long time to come, which is why the army needs Afghanistan experts to advise them. That could be you! Annual Salary: $117,000 and $162,000 Photo Credit: The U.S. Army

While they may not be hiring just at this moment, there are several other government positions that tend to pay very well. Monster.com has a great list of 25 top paying jobs in government, which includes everything from astronomers and attorneys to librarians. That’s right, all you bookish folks out there, librarians make a killing in government. Photo Credit: AMagill

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Get Your Government Jobs

Looking for a cool new career? Then start looking at government jobs. Forbes recently reported that the government will be hiring 600,000 more employees during the next four years. If that’s not reason enough, USA Today reported that the number of government employees earning six-figure salaries has increased too. So, get your resume ready! Here is our mix of some of the highest-paying (and coolest-sounding) jobs currently being offered in government. Even if you are perfectly content in your current line of work, just the job descriptions for these positions are worth checking out. Photo Credit: alykat