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Job outlook for government contractors in the United States
Government contractor job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected government contractor job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 36,400 new jobs for government contractors are projected over the next decade.
Government contractor salaries have increased 9% for government contractors in the last 5 years.
There are over 5,138 government contractors currently employed in the United States.
There are 27,738 active government contractor job openings in the US.
The average government contractor salary is $76,972.
Are government contractor jobs in demand?
Government contractor job and salary trends over time
Government contractor jobs over time
Government contractor job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5,138 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 5,154 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 5,294 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 5,025 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,754 | 0.00% |
Average government contractor salary over time
Government contractor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $76,972 | $37.01 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $75,451 | $36.27 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $73,954 | $35.55 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | $72,370 | $34.79 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | $70,730 | $34.00 | +2.2% |
Government contractor jobs by state
Most common states for government contractors
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 55 | 8% |
| 2 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 176 | 2% |
| 3 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 25 | 2% |
| 4 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 21 | 2% |
| 5 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 15 | 2% |
| 6 | California | 39,536,653 | 210 | 1% |
| 7 | New York | 19,849,399 | 137 | 1% |
| 8 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 132 | 1% |
| 9 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 99 | 1% |
| 10 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 85 | 1% |
| 11 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 82 | 1% |
| 12 | Michigan | 9,962,311 | 69 | 1% |
| 13 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 64 | 1% |
| 14 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 62 | 1% |
| 15 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 52 | 1% |
| 16 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 50 | 1% |
| 17 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 33 | 1% |
| 18 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 27 | 1% |
| 19 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 17 | 1% |
| 20 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 12 | 1% |
Most common cities for government contractors
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | 1 | 3% | $85,868 |
| 2 | Boston | 2 | 0% | $87,238 |
| 3 | Arlington | 1 | 0% | $85,983 |
| 4 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $68,552 |
| 5 | Baltimore | 1 | 0% | $88,793 |
| 6 | Birmingham | 1 | 0% | $59,812 |
| 7 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $73,065 |
| 8 | Gilbert | 1 | 0% | $87,199 |
| 9 | Jacksonville | 1 | 0% | $65,789 |
| 10 | Los Angeles | 1 | 0% | $100,758 |
| 11 | Tampa | 1 | 0% | $65,656 |
| 12 | Washington | 1 | 0% | $74,506 |
Government Contractor job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of government contractor experts
Kennesaw State University
Arizona State University
National Tile Contractors Association
Neil Opfer
Assoc. Professor - UNLV Civil & Environmental Engineering & Construction DepartmentWhat Government Contractor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Neil Opfer: First off, know what competitive salaries are in your area of the country for the type of job you want as you never have to recover from a good start. Some companies, for instance, will offer salaries that are simply not competitive. As an example, a few years ago, we had one CM graduate starting at $70K per year at one firm (heavy-highway contractor) whereas another grad had been offered $42K per year for a commercial flooring contractor. That $42K was simply not competitive with the market whether that employer offering that salary knew it or not. Also, compare offers versus area living costs. Use cost-of-living calculators such as at bankrate.com If you, using this bankrate.com tool, were offered one job in Las Vegas NV at $80,000 per year versus another job opportunity in Los Angeles CA, you would need $122,000 per year as a comparable salary. Remember to measure yourself as to earning that salary on a regular basis. Don't take jobs where a bonus is promised to make up for a bad salary. Example here is taking a Superintendent Job where your Job ended up profitable but other jobs run by others overall didn't so taking that lower salary and not getting that bonus didn't work out so well. Again, benchmark yourself against what others in the industry in that same area are actually getting paid. If you truly feel you deserve a raise where you're at but can't get it you may need to change jobs to get to a higher salary scale. But that firm offering above-market salaries may be doing so because of internal problems (bad bosses, poor working conditions, insane hours, insane understaffing, etc.) so look before you leap. It's a given that to be successful as a working professional in construction, one cannot just work a 40-hour week. But you shouldn't be working 7-10s or more on a regular basis either. Again, through networking you perhaps can find out who are the 'bad employers.'
Irish Horsey Ph.D.
Interim Chair of the Department of Construction Management and Assistant ProfessorKennesaw State University
Department of Construction Management
What skills stand out on Government Contractor resumes?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Construction Managers are problem solvers. Employers seek analytical, technical, and effective communication skills from potential employees for construction management positions. Whether building a skyscraper or single-family home, there are always groups of people performing numerous construction activities and tasks simultaneously on a construction site. Therefore, resumes that show time, cost, and, most importantly, safety management skills are most desired by employers.
What soft skills should all Government Contractors possess?
Irish Horsey Ph.D.: Leadership and communication are among the most essential skills of a construction manager. Construction managers are responsible for ensuring that projects are built safely on schedule, within budget, and to the quality outlined in the drawings and specifications. To fulfill these responsibilities, construction managers must lead multiple teams, including primary, secondary, and third party players, on a construction project through effective oral and written communications.
What's a good job out of college for Government Contractors?
Kristen Parrish Ph.D.: I think a good job out of college, regardless of industry, is one that leverages your skills and compensates you for those skills. I think that in construction, the industry I'm most familiar with, there is no shortage of good jobs. You can work onsite, as an assistant superintendent or a project engineer, after college. If you're more interested in the office side of the construction industry, then a good job may be in the estimating department, or in the business development and marketing departments. I think new graduates will see that, unlike in 2008-2009, the requisite experience for joining a new company is pretty minimal. During the Great Recession, most companies prioritized hiring people with existing relationships in the construction industry, so students faced a tough market. However, today, if a graduate is entering the construction industry in a market that is healthy (like Phoenix), then being "green" is not an impediment -- plenty of companies are hiring young talent.
What general advice would you give to a Government Contractor?
Becky Serbin: Skill requirements are stated on our recruitment flyer, attached, but will ultimately be decided on by the hiring contractor. Beyond our flyer, many also require a valid drivers license.