What is the salary of a civil servant in the US?

US civil servant salaries vary widely by agency, role, and location, but generally range from entry-level positions around $32,000-$47,000 to high-level roles exceeding $100,000-$200,000, with federal positions often following the General Schedule (GS) pay scale, averaging around $82,000 annually for federal roles but much higher in specialized agencies like the SEC or NASA, and lower for roles like mail clerks or social service assistants.

How much do civil servants make a month in the US?

How much does a Federal Civil Service make? As of Jan 10, 2026, the average annual pay for a Federal Civil Service in the United States is $82,674 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $39.75 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,589/week or $6,889/month.

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300,000 or more in the U.S. are typically senior roles in technology, finance, law, and medicine, including roles like CEOs, Chief Technology Officers, Investment Bankers, Partner-Level Lawyers, Surgeons, and Specialized Physicians, along with top-tier Sales Directors, Management Consultants, and Private Equity Executives, often relying on bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing for high earnings. High-income careers without traditional degrees can also be found in tech entrepreneurship, high-level skilled trades, and top-performing sales. 

Who is the highest paid civil servant in the USA?

Here's a look at the top 5 in 2020:

Anthony Fauci, NIH, Medical Officer - $434,312. Gary Gibbons, NIH, Medical Officer - $422,339. Hubert Kim, VHA, Medical Officer - $420,402.

What is Governor Newsom's salary?

Gavin Newsom's salary as Governor of California is around $234,000 annually, though official figures vary slightly with recent reports placing it closer to $242,000, while his total income from business ventures, often in blind trusts, significantly exceeds this. His official state salary is set by the California Citizens Compensation Commission, and while he earns substantial income from his wine and hospitality businesses (PlumpJack Group), his gubernatorial salary provides his primary government income. 

How Much Do Federal Employment Positions Typically Pay? | Civil Service Study Center

What is the highest paid US government job?

High Paying Government Jobs

• Medical Examiner. Salary range: $64,000 - $268,500. ...
• Director of Regulatory Affairs. Salary range: $150,000 - $198,000. ...
• Commissioner. Salary range: $196,500 - $196,500. ...
• Incident Manager. ...
• Incident Response Consultant. ...
• Country Manager. ...
• Police Captain. ...
• Incident Response Manager.

What job pays $400,000 a year without a degree?

The most prominent "$400,000 job without a college degree" discussed in recent news is a Walmart Supercenter Store Manager, where compensation can reach that level through a combination of increased base pay (around $128k average), significant bonuses (up to 200% of base), and annual stock grants (up to $20k) for top performers, making the role lucrative for those rising from hourly work. Other paths to high income without a degree include skilled trades, tech sales, and specialized roles like power plant operators, often achieved through skills-based training, certificates, or apprenticeships rather than a traditional four-year degree.
 

What are civil servants called in America?

The civil service is made up of individuals other than military personnel who are employed by federal, state, or local government entities. These individuals, also known as civil servants, are sometimes referred to as government bureaucrats or career administrators.

What was Fauci's annual salary?

At the time of his retirement, Fauci's annual salary was $480,654, making him the highest paid U.S. federal government employee at the time. Fauci has described himself as "completely nonpolitical". His voter registration shows that he is not affiliated with any political party, although he still votes.

What jobs make $1,000,000 per year?

1 million per year jobs in California

• Mobile Radiologic Technologist (11:00am-7:00pm) Easily apply. ...
• Rheumatologist. Easily apply. ...
• Physician Urologist. Easily apply. ...
• Configuration Analyst. Easily apply. ...
• Pharmacist - Starting at $73.80 per hour. ...
• Create a profile on Indeed. ...
• Institutional Giving Manager. ...
• Financial Professional.

What are the most stressful high-paying jobs?

Many lists of stressful jobs include business leaders, whether they're identified as chief executive officers, advertising account executives or some other high-level corporate executive. These lucrative, white-collar jobs might seem highly desirable, but the big checks come with a price.

What jobs pay $500,000 a year in the US?

13 jobs that can pay over $500k a year

• Actor.
• Author.
• Accountant.
• Insurance agent.
• Investment banker.
• Professional athlete.
• Entrepreneur.
• Hedge fund manager.

Do federal employees get retirement benefits?

The government provides employees with a comprehensive retirement benefits package called the Federal Employees Retirement System, known as FERS—a system that includes three different contributions to employees' retirement.

What is the pay scale for FBI agents?

The Special Agent position starts at a base salary of $48,371.00 (GL-07, step 1), with promotion potential to $117,034.00 (GS-13, step 10). This position is covered by Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) which is an additional compensation of 25% of the basic rate of pay.

What jobs pay $200,000 a year in the USA?

There are thousands of jobs in the USA paying $200k+ annually, primarily in Technology, Healthcare, Finance, and Executive Leadership, with roles like Software Engineer, Surgeon, Investment Banker, CFO, and VP/Director being common. Roles requiring advanced skills, experience, or high responsibility, often including bonuses and stock options, exist across industries, with opportunities found on job sites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter.
 

What are top civil servants called?

Permanent Secretaries

A permanent secretary is the most senior civil servant in a department. Each Supports the government minister at the head of the department, who is accountable to Parliament for the department's actions and performance.

How are civil servants selected in the USA?

Competitive Service – Competitive service positions are subject to the civil service laws passed by Congress. The laws help to ensure fair and open competition, recruitment from all segments of society, and selection on the basis of the applicants' competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Who makes $30 an hour without a degree?

Many skilled trades, healthcare support, and tech roles pay $30/hour or more without a degree, including electricians, plumbers, HVAC techs, physical therapist assistants, surgical technicians, IT support specialists, and web developers, often requiring certifications, apprenticeships, or on-the-job training instead of a 4-year degree. Roles like air traffic controllers, sales agents, and insurance adjusters are also potential options, with pathways focusing on experience and specific licenses. 

How much is $60,000 a year hourly?

$60,000 a year is approximately $28.85 per hour, assuming a standard 40-hour workweek (2080 work hours per year), calculated by dividing your annual salary by 2080 hours. This breaks down to about $1,154 weekly or $5,000 monthly before taxes and deductions. 

What jobs pay $2000 a day?

To earn $2000 daily, you need high-value skills or scalable hustles like specialized freelancing (AI training, high-end writing), sales (physician moonlighting, medical sales), building online assets (e-commerce, digital products, YouTube), or flipping high-value items, moving beyond basic gigs like surveys or simple driving to truly high-earning potential.
 

What government job is easiest to get into?

The easiest government jobs to get are typically entry-level administrative, clerical, and customer service roles, like administrative assistants, data entry clerks, and postal workers, as they require fewer specialized skills or degrees, focusing more on basic office functions, organization, and computer skills. Jobs such as IRS Customer Service Representatives or certain forestry/parks aides can also be accessible entry points, but competition varies, so checking USAJobs.gov, state/local career sites, and platforms like Indeed for specific requirements is key. 

What jobs make $3,000 a month without a degree?

You can earn $3,000 a month without a degree in skilled trades (electrician, HVAC, mechanic), healthcare support (dental/medical assistant, LPN), tech (IT support, coding bootcamps), sales (real estate, automotive, tech), transportation (trucking, delivery), and specialized roles like security, customer service, or administrative assistant, often through training, certifications, or on-the-job experience, with many remote options available. 

Do government jobs offer good pensions?

The FERS pension, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) matching contributions, and Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program still offer a level of retirement security that's hard to match in the private sector. Most private employers no longer offer pensions. Very few provide retiree health coverage.