How To Get A Job in the Federal Government

Federal job titles by college major

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Below is a sampling of titles that relate to various college majors. Many of these positions allow for the substitution of experience for a degree. Most of these titles require either a bachelor’s degree or 5 years of closely related experience. A degree in the subject listed does not necessarily meet basic requirements of the position. Some require specific coursework in other subjects, and some, such as project manager, require experience.

Titles marked (*) can be entered with no education or experience, but coursework leading to an associate, vocational, or bachelor’s degree can qualify workers for a higher level of responsibility and pay.

Finally, there are many other titles related to these subjects, and official titles change with changing regulations. Use this list as a guide, but search for positions by keyword and occupational group, as well.

Agriculture and agronomy
Agricultural commodity grader
Agricultural engineer
Agricultural management specialist
Agricultural program specialist
Agronomist
Foreign agriculture affairs specialist
Irrigation operation occupation*
Social conservation technician*
Soil conservationist
Soil scientist

Architecture and construction science
Architect
Construction analyst
Construction control inspector
Landscape architect
Naval architect

Art
Arts specialist
Audio-visual production specialist
Design patents examiner
Exhibits specialist or technician
General arts and information specialist
Illustrator
Museum specialist or technician
Photographer
Recreation and creative arts therapist
Visual information specialist

Astronomy
Astronomer and space scientist
Geodesist
Physical scientist

Biology
Animal health technician*
Animal scientist
Biological science technician*
Biological scientist, general
Consumer safety specialist
Fish and wildlife refuge management
Fishery biologist
Food inspector
General fish and wildlife administrator
Government Acountability Office (GAO) analyst
Microbiologist
Range conservationist
Range technician*
Veterinarian or veterinary health scientist
Wildlife biologist
Zoologist

Botany
Agronomist
Botanist
Forestry technician*
Geneticist
Horticulturist
Plant pathologist
Plant physiologist
Plant protection and quarantine specialist
Plant protection technician*

Business
Business and industry specialist
Contract specialist or procurement analyst
Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyst
Miscellaneous administrative and programs specialist, including acquisition manager
Program analyst

   Accounting and finance
Accountant
Accounting technician*
Assessor
Auditor
Budget analyst
Financial administrator
Financial analyst
Financial institution examiner
Financial manager
Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluator
Intelligence specialist
Internal revenue agent or officer
Securities compliance examiner
Tax specialist
Trade specialist

   Facilities management and realty
Distribution facility and storage manager
Equipment specialist
Facility manager
Housing manager
Industrial property manager
Realtor

   Human resources and employee relations
Apprenticeship and training representative
Contractor industrial relations specialist
Employee development specialist
Employee relations specialist
Equal employment opportunity specialist
Hearing and appeals specialist
Labor management relations specialist or examiner
Mediator
Wage and hour compliance specialist

   Industrial management
Industrial hygienist
Production control specialist
Quality assurance specialist

   Management
Administrative officer
Commissary store manager
Logistics management specialist
Management analyst
Printing manager
Program manager
Project manager
Supply specialist
Support services administrator

   Management information systems
Financial manager
Information technology specialist or manager
Operations research analyst

   Marketing
Agricultural marketing specialist
Bond sales promotion representative
Property disposal specialist
Trade specialist

Chemistry
Chemical engineer
Chemist
Consumer safety officer
Environmental engineer
Food inspector
Food technologist
Health physicist
Hospital housekeeping management
Intelligence specialist
Physical scientist
Toxicologist

Communications and journalism
Agricultural market reporter
Broadcaster
Communications specialist
Language specialist
Printing manager
Public affairs specialist
Technical writer/editor
Telecommunications managers
Writer/editor

Computer science
Computer specialist
Information technology project manager
Information technology (covers many specialties)

Counseling and social work
Educational and vocational training specialist
Educational services specialist
Equal opportunity compliance specialist
Food assistance program specialists and other social program specialists
Human resources specialist
Psychologist
Social service aids and assistant*
Social insurance administrator
Social worker
Vocational rehabilitation specialist

Criminal justice
Border patrol agent
Correctional officer
Criminal investigator
Document analyst
Internal revenue officer
Police officer
U.S. marshal

Education and library science
   Education
Education and training specialist or technician
Educational program specialist
Employee development specialist
Instructional systems specialist
Public health educator
Teacher (U.S. Department of Defense)
Training instructor
Vocational rehabilitation specialist

   Library science
Archivist
Librarian
Supply cataloger

   Physical education
Outdoor recreation planner
Recreation specialist
Sports specialist

Electronics
Electronics technician*
Telecommunications manager

English and literature
Communications analyst
Miscellaneous administrators and programs specialist
Printing manager
Public affairs specialist
Technical writer/editor
Writer/editor

Engineering
Engineering specialties
Operations research analyst
Physical scientist
Quality assurance occupations

Environmental studies
Ecologist
Environmental engineer
Environmental protection assistant*
Environmental protection specialist
Fish and wildlife refuge management
General fish and wildlife administrator
Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyst
Programs specialist (Environmental and natural resources)
Rangeland manager

Foreign language
Border patrol agent
Customs inspector
Foreign affairs specialist
Intelligence specialist
Language specialist

Forestry
Forest products technology specialist
Forestry specialist
Forestry technician*
Soil conservationist

Geology
Geodesist
Geologist
Hydrologist
Oceanographer
Physical scientist

Health and medicine
Consumer safety specialist
Consumer safety inspector*
Public health programs specialist

   Health science
Industrial hygienist
Public health educator
Safety and occupational health manager
Social insurance administrator

   Hospital administration
Administrative officer
Health system administrator
Health system specialist
Hospital housekeeping manager

   Medical
Dental hygienist*
Dental hygienist, community health
Diagnostic radiological technician*
Medical officer (“physician” or specialty name often used)
Medical technician*
Nurse
Pharmacist
Physical therapist
Physician assistant

   Nutrition
Consumer safety officer
Dietitians and nutritionist
Food assistance program specialists
Food technology occupations

History
Archivist
Historian
Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyst
Intelligence specialist
Museum curator
Museum specialist
Miscellaneous administrator and programs specialist

Law
Administrative law judge
Attorney
Hearing and appeals specialist
Highway safety specialist
Import specialist
Paralegal
Tax law specialist

Mathematics
Actuary
Cartographer
Mathematician
Operations research analyst
Statistician
Traffic manager

Park and recreation management
Forester
Outdoor recreation planner
Park ranger
Recreation and creative arts therapist
Recreation specialist

Physics
Astronomer and space scientist
Geodesist
Geophysicist
Health physicist
Hydrologist
Patent examiner
Photographic technology specialist
Physical scientist
Physicist

Social science
Program specialist
Social scientist

   Archaeology and anthropology
Anthropologist
Archaeologist
Museum curator
Museum specialist

   Economics
Economist
Financial analyst
Industrial analyst
Manpower development specialist
Trade specialist

   Geography
Cartographer
Cartographic technician*
Community planner
Geodetic technician
Geographer
Intelligence specialist
Navigational information specialist
Surveying technician*
Other titles plus Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

   International relations
Foreign affairs specialist
Intelligence specialist
International relations specialist
International trade specialist
Language specialist

   Political science, government, or public administration
Foreign affairs specialist
Government Accountability Office (GAO) analyst
Miscellaneous administrators and programs specialist
Program analyst
Program manager
Public affairs specialist
Public utilities manager

   Psychology
Educational services specialist
Employee development specialist
Human resources specialist
Psychologist
Recreational and creative arts therapist

   Sociology
Social service aids and assistant*
Social service administration specialist
Sociologist

Common titles across all majors
Intelligence specialist
Program analyst
Program manager
Program specialist
Writer/editor

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