Federal Jobs in California: Top Opportunities and How to Apply in 2026

California has thousands of federal job openings in 2026. Here's where the opportunities are, which agencies are hiring, and how to land a federal job in California.

California has more federal employees than any state outside of Virginia and Maryland. With major military installations, national parks, border operations, and one of the largest VA healthcare systems in the country, federal jobs in California span every career field and pay exceptionally well thanks to some of the highest locality pay rates in the nation.

Why California Federal Pay Is Among the Best

California falls under several of the highest locality pay areas in the country. The San Francisco locality area adds nearly 45% on top of base GS pay — meaning a GS-13 Step 1 that pays $98,496 base earns over $142,000 in San Francisco. Los Angeles adds approximately 35%, and San Diego adds around 33%.

For federal employees, California's high cost of living is partially offset by locality pay that most states don't come close to matching.

Top Federal Employers in California

Department of Defense: California is home to more military installations than almost any other state. Naval Base San Diego, Travis Air Force Base, Edwards Air Force Base, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and dozens of others employ massive civilian workforces.

Department of Veterans Affairs: Major VA medical centers in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Fresno, and throughout the state handle enormous patient volumes and hire constantly.

Department of Homeland Security: Border operations along the California-Mexico border, plus major ICE and CBP operations centered in San Diego and the Imperial Valley.

NASA: Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena and Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley employ engineers, scientists, and program managers at the forefront of space exploration.

Department of the Interior: National Park Service manages Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Sequoia, and dozens of other parks and monuments, creating year-round hiring needs.

Internal Revenue Service: Major processing and service operations in the Los Angeles and Fresno areas.

Highest Demand Federal Roles in California

• IT Specialist and Cybersecurity Analyst (across defense and civilian agencies)
• Nurse and Healthcare Professional (VA medical centers)
• Border Patrol Agent and CBP Officer (San Diego sector)
• Environmental Scientist and Natural Resources Specialist
• Contract Specialist and Acquisition Professional
• Engineer (civil, mechanical, electrical) across defense installations

State-Specific Considerations

California's high cost of living makes federal employment particularly attractive — especially at GS-12 and above. Federal benefits including healthcare, pension, and job security compare extremely favorably to private sector employment in a state where private sector layoffs have been significant in recent years.

Find federal jobs in California at FedJobs.co.