Civil servants are essential parts of the system that holds communities together. It’s down to them and how well they perform at their jobs that ultimately determines how well the nation functions. From people who handle economic policies down to sanitation workers who pick up garbage and handle waste disposal on a regular basis, civil service jobs truly serve the people of the nation.
Whether it’s the risk involved in the job of a firefighter, the ability to maintain law and order which a court officer is tasked with, the duty of police officers to keep the crime rates down, or simply the routine tasks of cleaning up neighborhoods, civil service jobs provide tremendous satisfaction.
Let’s dive deeper and see what exactly the benefits of civil service jobs are, and what brings thousands of people to the exams every time they’re held.
Excellent Pay
One would imagine that only high-level corporate jobs pay well. Surprisingly, civil service jobs aren’t too far behind. With basic educational requirements such as a high school diploma or a GED, civil service jobs like the NYC firefighter department, the NYC sanitation department, and even the NYS court officer department pay very well.
Apart from the highly competitive selection process, stretched out hiring timelines and the rigorous trainings, once you’re officially in, you’ll see that civil service jobs pay very well according to the requirements set out for them.
For instance, people starting out in the Suffolk County Police department can earn up to $42,000 while being in the academy. Over the years, it can reach upwards of $111,000 through incremental increases.
After clearing the NYS court officer tests, people can start off with a salary of over $54,000 which is quite impressive. They can earn up to $82,435 based on their pay grade level, as these salaries are capped by legal regulations to keep them from exceeding what people in higher ranks are earning.
People who’ve cleared their NYC sanitation exam and are expected to join the department soon can expect a starting salary of just below the $50,000 mark, with high chances of it going up to $90,000 after a certain period.
To put all of this into perspective, the median pay of the full-time salaried class is approximately $51,480 in 2021 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This shows that even people who are just starting with their careers get a good enough start they can build upon and easily cross average pay within a few years.
Insurance Plans
Everyone knows how expensive insurance plans can be. From health insurance to retirement plans, many Americans are still incapable of availing these plans due to high costs. As many as 10% of adults between the ages of 19 and 64 were uninsured during the first half of 2021.
The pandemic-induced economic downturn led to a lot of people dealing with the inaccessibility of healthcare programs, whether it was because of limited options or immensely high costs.
A great benefit of civil service jobs is that a number of benefits are offered to employees like pension plans, vested retirement plans, health insurance, and medical coverage for the entire family once certain conditions have been met.
Job Safety
Another key benefit of a civil service job that was recently highlighted due to the economic recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was that these jobs entail high safety levels. The US lost a large number of jobs during the latter stages of 2019 and the start of 2020.
Many companies had to lay off their employees due to high labor costs which they were unable to sustain.
On the other hand, a department such as the New York sanitation department will always need to function at full capacity. Otherwise, the city may suffer tremendous consequences. So, it can be said that civil service workers enjoy greater job safety than those in the private sector.
Paid Leaves
Even with the immense responsibilities civil service workers have, they are still generously allowed 12 paid casual days off and 20 days of paid vacation in the first year alone. Apart from all the other benefits, this truly becomes the icing on the cake.
The ethical and moral satisfaction from helping others is unmatched too. Preparing in the best way for the tests when they are held is something all civil service aspirants should keep in mind.
For this, Civil Service Success is a great place to get started. They offer high quality classes by experienced instructors who themselves have been part of the civil service sector.
About the Author
The author is a civil worker in the federal government. He is an active advocate for people joining the civil service and promotes various departments frequently.
