Federal employment

Federal jobs in Puerto Rico: agencies, pay and how to get in

Updated: August 8, 20268 min read

Why consider federal employment

Federal employment in Puerto Rico offers published pay scales, standardized benefits (retirement plan, health insurance, leave) and stability. Positions are publicly announced on USAJOBS with transparent requirements, any qualified person can compete.

Agencies with a presence on the island

Federal employers that regularly post positions for Puerto Rico include:

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), hospital and clinics of the veterans health system.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), customs, border protection and transportation security.
Department of Defense and the Army, Fort Buchanan and National Guard activities.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) and food inspection.
Social Security Administration (SSA), federal courts and other civilian agencies.

What types of positions are posted

The typical mix includes healthcare (nursing, technicians, pharmacy), security and law enforcement, administration and office support, maintenance and trades, and technology. Announcements can be permanent, temporary or term, full- or part-time, the announcement always specifies.

On MyPRjobs we import the active federal positions for Puerto Rico directly from USAJOBS and update them automatically, with the official link to apply.

How to prepare to compete

Three concrete steps: (1) create your USAJOBS account and complete the profile; (2) build a complete federal resume; it is the factor that disqualifies the most applications; (3) set up saved searches for Puerto Rico and apply early, because some announcements close when they reach an application limit.

If you are a veteran, document your preference. If you are a student or recent graduate, look into the Pathways programs.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need English for a federal job in Puerto Rico?

The application process (announcements, questionnaires, resume) is in English, and many positions require communicating in English. The exact level depends on the position; check the official announcement's requirements.

Do federal jobs in Puerto Rico pay the same as in the states?

Federal pay combines the base salary for the position's scale plus the locality adjustment OPM publishes for each area. Each USAJOBS announcement shows the exact range for that position in that locality; that is the reliable reference.

Official sources

MyPRjobs is an independent job discovery platform. MyPRjobs does not process this application. You will be redirected to USAJOBS or the appropriate official website to complete your application.

Who writes this

MyPRjobs is made by one person in Puerto Rico who went through these processes: worked for a private agency, for the Government of Puerto Rico, and for the federal government. The guides are written from the official sources above and corrected when an agency changes a requirement.

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