In terms of career security, no industry is completely safe. That being said, government jobs do tend to be some of the most stable out there. They often offer great benefits, and certain roles can be extremely lucrative in terms of pay. Read on for the five highest paying government jobs out there, and consider if one might be the role you’re looking for.
The law of the land
Many of the government’s highest paying jobs involve enforcing laws that keep the integrity of various government branches safe. This means big responsibilities—which translates to big paychecks.
1. Securities-compliance examiner
This role involves working for the Securities and Exchange Commission in order to conduct audits on both individuals and companies. You’ll be expected to root out financial scams and other wrongdoings in industries like banking, investment, trading, electronics, and entertainment. To qualify for this position, you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree in something like accounting or finance (certification as a public accountant also helps), as well as many years of experience. While the highest-paid securities-compliance examiners earn around $209,000, average salaries hover around $184,000 per year.
2. Administrative-law judge
In order to snag this role, you’ll need to be a licensed attorney and have around eight years of experience under your belt. As an administrative-law judge, you’ll be in charge of hearing cases against certain government programs like the Social Security Administration or Medicare. There are various different organizations that employ this type of judge, including the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission and the Office of Medicare Hearings. While the highest-paid judges can make as much as $181,000 per year, average salaries usually fall somewhere around $163,000 per year.
3. Patent attorney
If the idea of patents interests you—from helping shape new patent laws to tweaking existing ones to negotiating agreements—this might be the role for you. Hired by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, someone in this role must be a law graduate with many years of experience working under an established patent attorney. The ability to not only understand but also be able to analyze and interpret various technicalities is a particularly specialized skill that all federal patent attorneys need to have. While the highest paid employees in this position can make around $258,000 per year, average salaries for patent attorneys are usually around $170,000 per year.
A healthy career
Medical professionals who work for the government are particularly well compensated, in large part because they are expected to perform vitally important duties for a wide range of people.
4. Medical officer
Often hired by the Veterans Health Administration, medical officers are the ones responsible for leading healthcare offices and hospitals. They are expected to advise on various different fronts, including clinical trials, disease control, and even organizational promotion. A medical degree is obviously required, as is past experience in clinical supervision. The average salary for a medical officer is around $273,000 per year.
5. Dental officer
As opposed to a regular dentist, a dental officer specifically practices in the public sector. This means supervising other dentists in addition to working somewhere like a jail or municipal health clinic. A medical degree in dental medicine (as well as recognition by the Commission on Dental Accreditation) is required, as is passing the National Board Dental Examination, holding a state license, and completing a residency (which is typically at least three years). The average salary for a dental officer falls around $143,000 per year.
When it comes to pay, no one likes to fool around. If making top dollars in a stable government job is your goal, these positions should help serve as your guiding light toward reaching those dreams.
