Some of the best job opportunities for veterans come from the federal government. In 2018, the US Office of Personnel Management, or OPM, reported that 31% of government jobs across 28 agencies were held by veterans.
While branches of the US Armed Forces obviously employ many veterans through military jobs, here are some of the top agencies that hire veterans. We’ll use the OPM’s report for veteran hiring percentages.
Government Jobs for Vets in Justice and Law Enforcement
Percent of workforce made up by veterans: 24.1%
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The US Department of Justice hires veterans for a wide variety of roles. Through frequent veteran job fairs, they give veterans the opportunity to become:
- Correctional officers
- Accountants
- IT specialists
- Intelligence researchers
- Safety and occupational health professionals
The DOJ also includes other government agencies well-suited to veterans including the ATF, FBI and DEA.
The Department of Homeland Security
Percent of workforce made up by veterans: 26.8%
Though it offers similar career opportunities to veterans, the Department of Homeland Security is separate from the Department of Justice. Its responsibilities focus more on border security, counter terrorism and infrastructure protection. Career paths at the DHS lead veterans to multiple agencies under their umbrella, including:
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement
- The Secret Service
- The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Other administrative agencies
Department of Transportation
Percent of workforce made up by veterans: 36.7%
Like the DOJ, the Department of Transportation features a robust veterans hiring program. In partnership with the VA, Department of Defense and other government agencies, the DOT hires veterans for six main roles:
- Aviation pilot
- Air traffic controller
- Aviation maintenance tech
- Commercial motor vehicle driver
- EMS
- Railroad operation manager and technician
The Veterans Administration
Percent of workforce made up by veterans: 31.8%
Because they have almost 1,300 locations across the country, the VA offers veterans a flexible list of potential careers. While they of course need medical professionals of all kinds (doctors, nurses, technicians, etc.), they also need:
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- Mental health advocates
- Administrators and leaders
- Human resources representatives
- Accountants
- Law enforcement professionals
Perhaps the greatest advantage of jobs for veterans at the VA is the large education assistance program.
The Department of Energy
Percent of workforce made up by veterans: 25.5%
From national security to energy research, the Department of Energy offers veterans not just rewarding careers, but also training for many of the jobs they offer, including:
- Clean energy research and development
- Industrial, electrical, nuclear and mechanical engineering
- Facilities management
- Geographical mapping
- Public relations
The Department of Agriculture
Percent of workforce made up by veterans: 12.8%
While the Department of Agriculture doesn’t boast the highest percentage of employed veterans, they offer perhaps the most diverse jobs to veterans:
- Fire fighters
- Food inspection and public health professionals
- Soil conservation researchers and technicians
- Information technology
The USDA also offers two apprenticeship programs that offer thousands of hours of paid hands-on, on-the-job training.
Prepare Yourself for the Federal Job Application Process
Most of these agencies also extend hiring preference to disabled veterans and military spouses. For more information on these programs and how to start your job search, visit our page on job hunting for veterans. Keep in mind that most of these government job hiring initiatives require applicants to be honorably discharged or retired from the military.
I’ve been out of the military for 6 years now. Dual Bachelors degree of science, 6 years as Sr technician through civilian positions due to service mos. Constantly tried to apply for any job for veterans through government job boards. And always get passed up. Any rating gs-1 – gs-4, civilian non gs rated. And nothing. This is a BS post.
Persistence pay off when dealing with the VA Continue to apply and keep sending letters requesting why they are turning you down. But persistence pay off every time. Or keep going to the Admin office so everyone knows your face I promise you will get a job that way, but be nice.
I Served in The United States of America Marine Corps for Four Years and hade a jod at Alcoa Aluminum waiting for me and Retired 30 years later as A Cheif Quality Assurance Inspector where I worked on Military and Government Parts where I made sure that every part passed A
RIDGID Documentation Format not letting any parts go through that did not meet those Specifications of those Particular Pieces and am willing to Train Inspection Procedures for Government Inspectors Who do not know what they are doing on A- part-time Basis
I am a retired Federal Employee
With 45 years of service with the VA. I worked as an Employment Coordinator
For. GIBill Program known As Voc Rehab. Also known as Chapter 31. This program is provided for Veterans with a service connected disability.
My success with Federal Government Hires did not reflect my efforts!
The reality is that the HR Dept. are not “professionally “ staffed! Nepotism is
Is rampant! HR Departments are staffed with unqualified personnel! Truly, these Departments wouldn’t know or care about hiring a vet if their jobs depended on it. ( which it doesn’t)
LOOK at the per cent of employees that are veterans 30% or a little more. Tragic!
The reality is it starts at the top!
“To Serve and Protect” what Jon’s for people who did neither!
Then you can add age discrimination to the list. Unfortunately, most opportunities are for young and recently discharged veterans.
Sad to say but it’s true…age discrimination is real in all spectrum of the hiring process.
A lot of what you say is true! I am female veteran of the Vietnam Era. I was a personnel Specialist and severed at Ft. McClelland in Alabama and at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital i DENVER, WE DEALT WITH THE OVERLOAD OF AMPUTEES IN RECOVERY AND TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN. These were soldiers from Walter Reed, Ft. Sam Houston and some from bases outside of the US. They suffered physically and many ha PTSD or Agent Orange issues. Sometimes they had all three, but it was a hospital that covered it all! They learned that they could physically do about anything that they did before their military life and somethings they never knew that they could do or had a chance to experience before. But I spent years trying to get a government job in Oklahoma, New Mexico and just about anywhere.. My dad served as an airplane mechanic in the Army Air Cor during WW II, left thee as a Sgt., he then spent 45 years at Tinker AFB,his baby sister worked Cicilian Personel for over 30 years, my mom was an RN at the VA hospital in Oklahoma City for over 40 years, as an ICU Nurse. My uncle serveed in the Army during WW II and went to work as an airplane mechanic at Tinker AFB in OKC> My older brother was a lifer in the Army and served yhree tours in Vietnam, after retiring he went to work at Ft. Gordon, Georgie training the new recrits how to do his job. But women were not so lucky, men were usually hired over us and had less training and education as women. You only got those jobs because who you know, etc. After all the years of trying to get a government job I was finally offered a job as a daycare worker and was supposed to tart the day before the booming of the Murray Building in OKC. Something warned my senses not to accept the job, had I been there I would have had my name on one of those chairs at the National Memorial in OKC. But I moved on and had three great kids, five grandkids and three great grandkids! SOMETIMES GOD HAS BETTER PLANS FOR US THAN A GOVERNMENT JOB!
I look forward to serving our country in the Federal Service. I am a retired Warrant Officer in the Medical Field as well as a Civilian Special Educator ( Teacher of the Handicapped.) I also have a Masters level education . I look forward to helping person’s of all ages to succeed in life at all levels, military and as a civilian.
I’m a disabled veteran, served in army as a combat medic and instructor for my unit, now I serve as a combat medic Instructor civilian for the army, almost 20 yrs. I love my job and wish I could continue working! Sad to say my body has a different opinion, I’m broken and in pain. The VA hasn’t done anything to help me. I have a primary doctor in VA, I got ok I don’t have to see you again for a year!🫤 The VA needs Veterans To run it. Only veterans know what it’s like! Our government claims they are helping, but in order to get help there are a huge amount of loopholes that should never exist, our medical records are in the system and VA and Military have access to them. Yet we the injured and I’ll, have to jump threw hops to get any assistance! That should never happen! Sorry 😢 to say but it’s true! We are forever grateful for serving our country!!! But not so much grateful for the service from our government!
First thank you for your service as a Medic! I am sure you saved many lives. Second, did anyone ever tell you that if you were unsatisfied with ANY of your VA Doctors that you can “fire” them??? I have only one Doctor that I had to fire, best decision I’ve ever made! The “fired”Doctors don’t leave the VA, they just leave your health team. FIRE that primary care physician and get someone who ACTUALLY listens to you! Good luck!
Former Sergeant US Army
Agree 100%. Am USN Ret DAV and ret in 2003. VA wouldn’t even resched disability physical, RET from NAVCENT Bahrain because per the GS-3 Because I was working as DOD CTR/IT type at undisclosed location working 12/7s they wouldn’t resched for my 2 weeks lv every 6 mos. I was told “it’s not the VAs fault where u deceides to work as a civilian MR Kichman. WE WERE AT WAR. The only apt I had at VA, I witnessed a WWII ver in a wheechair blownnoff by 2 VA employees and all he wanted was a cup of water! yes I got for him and was chastised for entering employees only break room for water.. That was the last time I went to VA, they said either we rate u on what we have or u can start over when u are back in FL permanently. I did soend a week at Walter Reed and they were good. I declined the brain surgery but iver the next two years had 4 trips to ICU, 3 Neurosirgeries, then another shldr sirgery, 1st was on active duty and was told at time, u will have arthistis and bone spurs later. Yes 3 yrs after Ret. Have been 100% DAV w SS and Corp Long Term Dis policy benifits and shd prob go back to VA as am in limited income and shouldn’t have to bag groceries when I’m 65. Anyhow didn’t write just to vent but to perhaps show a Bother or Sister that they aren’t alone and we must vote for people who will hire those of us who UNDERSTAND and CARE, two qualities I rarely saw in the VA system. Like most Govies they stop learnibg and see they can get by without doing what is in job requirement . As a DOD CTR if we didn’t do what Statement of Work says, FIRED. Need to clean house at VA, we were heading inthe right direction 2016-2020 but all gains now lost but don’t have to embrace the Suck with this. VOTE, GO TO VFW/AMERICAN Legion, local Giv mtgs etc. GOD BLESS YOU ALL and thanks for all you’ve done and do..
V/R
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I agree
Not all of us veterans get relief from our government. I’m just trying to keep my home that the financial institution is trying to steal from me because of pandemic and losing my job I went I yo forbearance and tried to make a payment they would not accept told me to contact loss mitigation and now they are trying to foreclose and Noone to help this veteran MR. PRESIDENT
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
This is why the labor union needs to be investigated for all jobs to see if people meet the criteria to do the job and then to work alone doing the job. First it’s make a deal then is prove your work thesis and invention. I proved hydroponics work and agriculture in hvac too but this people bailing out, people dead no iq test to see if your trained well. Who ever got in to total power condemn civilization. The financial district is not even supporting nyc. Unbelievable.
Wow! Sounds like the hiring process need revision huh???
Ismael, thanks for bringing these kind of issues in to light. I don’t understand how those applicants got there without DD 214 verified.
This isn’t true in all cases. I work at the VA and my supervisor only hires people referred to her from other coworkers. Now I have two sisters and their best friend working here under the direct hire. Which isn’t fair the my fellow Veterans looking for work. And now she says these girl All know how to schedule patients. This shouldn’t be an issue in a learning hospital or does it?.
Amen Brother seen it happen all the time.
The VA in NJ’s hiring practices are just as you so insightfully described
I am a 100%disable veteran and my wife is well qualified for a position at the va and can’t find s position in counseling why?
[email protected]
I am retired military and for over 25 years I have been trying to get a job in the Federal Services arena, no such luck. The above link sends out multiple jobs in multiple locations. You’ll have to set up how often you want to see the jobs, it may help.
Thank you, I am a veteran as well. Both my father and grandfather retired from the Army Depot near my town. I’ve applied for multiple jobs there and tons of other jobs listed on USAjobs and other websites like Indeed and have never even made it to an interview process…..
I retired from the USMC in Oct. 2004 as a LtCol. . I have held several jobs since then but am now out of work. I have a law Degree. Any suggestions?
[email protected]
I am retired military and for over 25 years I have been trying to get a job in the Federal Services arena, no such luck. The above link sends out multiple jobs in multiple locations. You’ll have to set up how often you want to see the jobs, it may help.
My husband is VA Disable vet and our daughter is trying to get a job at the VA hospital never get the jobs .I always wonder if the job is there and she is very qualified for it why not given to her !Not fair!
I’d like to know also. I’m a veteran and if you are not known to the hiring supervisor, it’s hard to get in the 🚪. It’s a lot of favoritism when it comes to getting hired. I know from experience( DC and Fl VAMC) a monopoly.
I didn’t catch a age limit.