Can government jobs pay over $100K?

Hey! Hannah here 👋 We just got back from a quick trip to Indianapolis to interview union trade workers at LaborFest. 

They had no idea we were coming, but we were welcomed with open arms! Honestly, we’ve been kicked out or given a hard time at many events we’ve attended. But this was the first time we felt 100% welcomed not only by the event organizers but also by attendees!

Keep scrolling to watch our vlog of the trip and full interviews (these might be our best yet 👀).

3 Highest-Paying Government Jobs (and How to Land Them)

When you hear “government job,” you might imagine days spent in suits shuffling papers on Capitol Hill. But working for Uncle Sam offers all sorts of job opportunities, from the military to public health to infrastructure and everywhere in between. Government jobs are both diverse and lucrative (our Salary Database recorded a $200,000 salary for civil engineers!). 

Even better? Government jobs come with perks you don’t often get in the private sector, such as pensions and strong union support.  

So we pulled some stats from our database and resources to surface three top-earning government jobs—and nope, president isn’t one of them. 🙃

1. Attorney 

Government attorneys do what private attorneys do, but instead of representing individuals or businesses, they represent (you guessed it!) the government. 

These individuals are paid very well for their deep knowledge of public law and government procedures. And with duties ranging from enforcing financial regulations to prosecuting criminal cases, no two days are the same.

2. Air Traffic Controller 

There’s one professional you almost never see at the airport, but without them, you couldn’t fly safely: air traffic controllers! Instead of handling commercial flights, government air traffic controllers work for national aviation authorities. 

Given the sky-high risks of the job, they undergo extensive training, from learning how to read radar systems to knowing the ins and outs of aviation laws. 

3. Nurse Practitioner 

There are over 3 million registered nurses in the US, but nurse practitioners (NPs)? Just 385,000. It’s no wonder NPs are one of the fastest-growing jobs in the country, with a growth rate of 45% (for reference, the average is 3%)!

Government NPs work within public health settings—think: VA hospitals, military facilities, etc.

There are plenty more high-paying government jobs out there. Our guide includes six that pay over $80,000—and shows you exactly how to land ‘em. Explore the full list here!

File these under: Things I was surprised to find out at LaborFest (you might be, too).

• Many of the union trades offer two types of retirement plans (pensions and annuities) and great healthcare that workers can keep after retiring.

• Most workers we interviewed didn’t go to college. Instead, their unions paid for them to complete their associates degrees.

Want to learn more about the high pay and high rewards of labor union? Right this way. ▶️ 

• Amazon drivers are officially Amazon workers. 🙌 For years, Amazon claimed its drivers weren’t employees to avoid bargaining with driver unions. But a federal labor regulator ruled otherwise, paving the way for 280,000 drivers to unionize and fight for better working conditions. 

• Federal judge blocks FTC’s noncompete ban. 👎 The judge called the rule “arbitrary and capricious”—but banning noncompetes would’ve led to 8,500 new businesses, a $524 wage increase for workers, and lower healthcare costs. Doesn’t sound arbitrary to us! 

• Starbucks CEO under fire for private jet commute. ✈️ While Starbucks employees must come into the office three times a week, new CEO Brian Niccol will WFH in California, using the company’s private jet for trips to Starbucks’ Seattle HQ. Say it with us: “Rules for thee, not for me.” 

• Barnaby’s Café cut servers' wages and warned them not to discuss it. 😡 The café slashed waiters’ hourly rate from $5 to $2.13 and threatened “disciplinary action” if they discussed the change with the public. Remember, you have the legal right to discuss your salary. Our video covers what to do if you end up in a similar situation, and how to get (free) legal assistance.

Thanks for being here! Before we part ways: Have you ever applied to a job with a big pay range in the job posting, only for the actual pay available to be this 🤏 big? 

If so, reply and let us know! We’d love to share your story. 👀

See you next week!