Government Jobs Key Terms

Discover different types of state and federal government positions available

By Michelle Cramer

Working for the government can be a rewarding career. In addition to great benefits, substantial retirement packages and more holidays than the average employee, the various options for career paths seem to never end. There is a government career path available, whether you have an interest in law enforcement, mathematics, the environment, engineering, sociology or working with families. This article consists of just a few of the available options.

FBI agent

A Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) agent is a law enforcement officer at one of the highest levels. FBI agents are responsible for investigating incidents related to national security and non-compliance with federal laws and statutes. They also assist other law enforcement agencies on the municipal and state levels.
Try: Visit Degrees for more information on requirements for becoming an FBI Agent. The Federal Bureau of Investigation website lists more than 200 areas over which agents have jurisdiction.

ATF inspector

ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) inspectors investigate the usage of products falling under those three categories and make sure that distribution and taxation of these items meet state and federal regulations.
Try: CopCareer provides more details about a career as an ATF inspector. Street Law provides descriptions of many other law enforcement positions.

Internal revenue officer

An internal revenue officer (or IRS officer) is responsible for collecting delinquent state and federal taxes as well as attempting to find individuals and businesses that failed to pay taxes.
Try: Visit USAJobs for a list of requirements to become an IRS officer. Read the tax examiner job description on QandAs if you want to work for the IRS but don't want to deal with delinquent or unpaid taxes.

ECO

Environmental conservation officers (ECO) are employed by state governments and administer state and federal regulations meant to protect the environment and natural resources.
Try: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission provide detailed job descriptions for an ECO.

Consumer safety officer

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) employs consumer safety officers to make sure that any product it regulates meets government standards to ensure the safety of consumers. Included among the many duties of a consumer safety officer are investigating consumer complaints about a product and informing manufacturers of product regulations.
Try: Learn more about the duties of a consumer safety officer on the Federal Drug Administration website.

Social worker

There are many facets of social worker duties. Most of us are familiar with social workers who assist families with counseling, protect child welfare or administer aid programs such as WIC and food stamps.
Try: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explains the many possibilities for social worker employment. Visit the USAJobs Career Interest Guide to explore other types of government jobs.