Job Information

Equal Opportunity

The Natural Resources Conservation Service is an equal opportunity employer.  Applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, politics, disability, sexual orientation, marital or family status.

Placement and Salary

The NRCS has more than 2,500 field locations throughout the United States. So, regardless of your location, there may be opportunities where you want to work. Starting salaries are competitive with those of other government agencies and the private sector.

Training and Advancement

You will get many chances for on-the-job and formal training.  You'll set career goals and NRCS will help you achieve them. There are promotion opportunities.  How fast and how far you advance depends on you.  Advancement opportunities broaden as you gain experience with varied work assignments in different locations.

Vacation, Sick Leave, and Disability

During your first 3 years of service, you'll earn 13 days of vacation leave each year.  After 3 years, you'll earn 20 days. After 15 years, you'll earn 26 days. Each year, you earn 13 days of sick leave.  You can accumulate sick leave without limit to cover serious illness. Special benefits are available if you are disabled or injured while working.

Quality of Worklife

The NRCS offers flexible work schedules and programs to help employees balance the demands of work with personal and family responsibilities.  These include various alternative work schedules, job sharing, telecommuting, and employee assistance programs.

Health and Life Insurance

The NRCS pays a substantial part of your health insurance costs and there are a variety of medical plans offered under this voluntary program. Another voluntary program provides life insurance.  The amount of insurance available to you depends on your salary, and again, the NRCS pays part of the cost.

Retirement

Most Federal employees hired today are covered by the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS).  This system has three components: (1) Social Security, (2) a basic annuity, and (3) a tax-deferred Thrift Savings Plan.  FERS employees may contribute up to 10 percent of their salary to the Thrift Savings and NRCS will match up to 5 percent of that amount. Depending on your investment goals, you can invest in any combination of government securities, stock, and bond funds.

For Job Information

For information on how to apply, contact your local NRCS office.  NRCS offices are listed in your local telephone directory under U.S. Government, Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.