Comparison Guide
Best job boards for government employees (2026)
A practical guide for federal, state, and local employees transitioning to the private sector—plus when to use clearance-focused boards and official government listings.
Quick recommendations
- If you’re focused on transitioning out: start with FedUp.work.
- If you have a clearance: use ClearanceJobs in parallel.
- If you’re considering staying in government: cross-check with USAJOBS.
- For broad discovery and company pages: use LinkedIn and Indeed, then validate employers via Glassdoor.
FedUp.work
View →Best for: Government-to-private transitions
Pros
- Government-specific positioning
- AI-powered matching
- Filters that map to government context
Cons
- Best experience after you set up your profile
ClearanceJobs
View →Best for: Security-cleared roles
Pros
- Clearance-focused employers
- Clearance-centric search experience
Cons
- Narrower focus if you are not cleared
USAJOBS
View →Best for: Staying in federal service
Pros
- Official federal listings
- Strong coverage of federal openings
Cons
- Not designed for private-sector transitions
LinkedIn Jobs
Visit →Best for: Networking + broad private-sector coverage
Pros
- Company pages + recruiters
- Social proof and network effects
Cons
- Can be noisy without strong filters
Indeed
Visit →Best for: Broad job discovery
Pros
- Huge inventory
- Strong location/category pages
Cons
- Can include duplicates or low-signal listings
GovernmentJobs.com (NEOGOV)
Visit →Best for: State and local government roles
Pros
- Strong local coverage
- Application tracking
Cons
- Not focused on private-sector transitions
Glassdoor
Visit →Best for: Company research (reviews + salaries)
Pros
- Employer reviews and salary context
- Useful for interview prep
Cons
- Job search experience varies by role/location
GovLoop
View →Best for: Professional development and community
Pros
- Editorial content and training
- Community discussions
Cons
- More “in-government” oriented than transition-oriented
Want a government-to-private search experience?
FedUp.work is built specifically for the transition: clear filters, role translation, and job discovery that treats government experience as signal—not noise.