Many Opportunities
The state always needs employees with diverse backgrounds and experience. We hire surgeons, groundskeepers, archeologists, plumbers, and music therapists. If you’re majoring in botany or art history, working for the government might not be your first thought, but those degrees could help you get hired as an environmental planner.
With a degree in geography, you could work to protect the coastline’s resources. If you’re more interested in how the land benefits the population directly, you could specialize in housing and community development. Or consider transportation planning, where you could influence how people travel across California’s 100 million acres.
But you don’t need a four-year degree to take care of your state, or even its transportation system. You could qualify for some positions at the Department of Transportation, the California Highway Patrol, or the Department of Motor Vehicles, where you could work to keep our roads functional and safe.
Any major or interest could be a path to a practical and rewarding job that helps make this state a good place to live. With 150 departments and agencies, California manages a tremendous number of resources and services, so we need a wide variety of employees. Whether you want to specialize in computer sciences or communicable diseases, there’s a place for you here, and your work will have meaning.
Generous Benefits
Retirement Plan
You’ll start earning a retirement plan after you’ve worked long enough to be eligible (usually five years). Your savings will grow every year you keep working for the state. When you retire, you’ll receive a monthly payment from those savings.
Student Loan Forgiveness
For public service employees, some federal student loans can be forgiven after 120 payments. This could take as little as 10 years.
Health Insurance
State jobs provide generous health care benefits for you and your family, and many options include dental and vision coverage. You can also enroll in long-term disability insurance and long-term care insurance.
Flexible Paid Leave
Annual leave combines sick days and vacation days into a pool of flexible credits. You can choose how to distribute those credits between health and leisure.
Career Development
A Strong Career with a Flexible Future
We want to help you build a career from the ground up. The state provides on-the-job training and professional development. Many positions don’t require previous experience or a degree. Advancement opportunities are open to you, and if you perform well, you could receive annual raises until you reach the maximum salary for that position.
If you’re looking for a change after your first year, you could transfer to another state job or department, while maintaining your benefits and retirement plan. It isn’t a huge risk to switch careers; there’s already a system in place to help you move forward. We view our employees as a long-term investment, so the state’s employment structure is designed to support a successful, fulfilling career.
