13 Government Jobs That Pay $90K or More and Actually Have Work-Life Balance

You've likely been told your entire life that government work won't help you lower your financial stress, given some low-paying jobs that often add stress to your daily life. This is why so many people forego the great benefits provided by public sector jobs. The stigma continues with younger generations. People under the age of 30 represent 7% of the federal workforce, despite being 20% of the overall workforce.

But it turns out this stereotype is frequently not true. In fact, there are many government careers that pay top dollar. Even better, many of these positions offer great work-life balance. Around 66% of Americans have trouble establishing a healthy balance. Fortunately, you don't have to be one of them.

Below, you'll discover 13 governmental career paths that are high-paying and won't burn you out.

Patent examiners have a long and stable history in America. They work at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and review patent applications to ensure all requirements are met. Pay varies based on your experience and tenure with government work, but the median annual pay is $119,000, according to Glassdoor.

If you have legal experience, you can easily get a great government job that offers a lot of free time. One of the best ways is to become an Administrative Law Judge. While you typically start at $130,000, over time, you could end up earning $195,000 a year. Even better, these base salaries typically increase over time.

If you have a background in information technology (IT), you should have no problem finding a high-paying job with a great work-life balance. The median annual salary is $94,000 to $141,000. Professionals in these positions typically work 40-hour weeks and usually have easy access to telecommuting.

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Professionals who love environmental science and have the experience to back up that passion can live very comfortably on a government salary. Whether working for the EPA, NOAA, or other agencies, the base yearly pay sits at a little over $90,000, according to Glassdoor. For those with more experience or who stick around, salaries can climb to more than $110,000.

Medical officers within federal agencies earn significant paychecks thanks to high-grade positions and locality pay. Like other federal government jobs, the General Schedule (GS) pay scale dictates what a person earns.

The typical base pay for a medical officer at level GS-13 sits at $90,000, but this jumps to $125,000 for GS-15 positions. Even better, you avoid on-call hours while enjoying hefty benefits and student loan forgiveness options.

Health service managers start at GS-13, which is also where many medical officers start. This means you'll make more than $90,000 as a base salary. This could jump to $140,000 with experience or within specific localities. You would oversee public health operations, but typically within structured hours and devoid of typical hospital system stress.

Financial managers occupy a unique area of government work. That's because their pay scale starts at GS-5 but can increase to GS-15. Even at GS-9, you could make more than $80,000 per year. If you have plenty of experience, this could increase to up to $140,000, according to Glassdoor. Again, the typical 40-hour work week means you maintain a work-life balance.

Working in the CIA, FBI, or NSA may sound like it would offer no work-life balance. However, professionals in non-field roles typically work office jobs with consistent hours and telework options. The median salary in this role is over $97,000, according to Glassdoor. These positions offer purpose-driven work without stealing too much of your free time.

Federal contracting officers manage high-value procurements, making them integral components of the federal system, and they're compensated as such. The average pay in this role is more than $100,000, according to Indeed.

There's a tremendous opportunity for advancement, defined work hours, and minimal overtime. Detail-oriented professionals can move into this role without sacrificing compensation.

Demand is high for cybersecurity experts in agencies like DHS and the Department of Energy. If you have experience in this field, you can earn nearly $120,000 for your efforts, according to Glassdoor. The roles typically involve remote flexibility and structured hours, offering a solid escape from the long, unpredictable hours in private sector infosec.

HR professionals in federal agencies earn more than $90,000 on average, according to Glassdoor. These roles are office-based and have highly predictable schedules. This gives you ample opportunity to plan your life outside of work. Federal HR work offers a reprieve for professionals burned out by toxic corporate cultures with always-on cultures.

Anyone with the experience to hold an aerospace engineer position knows how great the pay is in the private sector. However, you can still earn over $110,000 per year by working with a federal agency. Besides flexible scheduling, employees enjoy research-focused missions and stable employment. It's ideal for those fed up with defense contracting.

Yes, serving as a foreign service officer can involve a lot of travel. However, these positions also offer housing allowance, generous leave, and excellent health coverage. Even better, you can make over $140,000 in this position, according to Glassdoor. If you want international experience without the instability of corporate global travel, this is the way to go.

Federal careers aren't just job security. They often offer competitive salaries, generous benefits, and a genuine path to work-life balance. For those burned out by the private sector, these roles offer a way to get ahead financially without sacrificing your personal life.

While there has been some recent upheaval in federal jobs, the government has scrambled to fill positions it initially believed were redundant. The important thing to remember is that these jobs will always be necessary, so take the leap and get back some of your free time.