Join North Carolina!

Where can I find jobs with the State of North Carolina?

All open jobs are posted on our Job Opportunities website. You don’t need to have a specific job in mind to fill out an interest card – a recruiter will reach out to help find opportunities that might be a good fit for you.

What types of jobs are available? 

Our Job Opportunities website includes all open permanent, time-limited, and temporary positions within NC state government. As you scroll through the list of open jobs, you'll find the type of job assignment (permanent, time-limited, or temporary) in bold to the left of where the annual salary or hourly rate is shown.

Who can apply for jobs with the State of North Carolina?

Anyone eligible for employment in the State of North Carolina is encouraged to search and apply for state government jobs. 

What is the difference between full-time and part-time?

Generally, the work schedule for a full-time permanent or time-limited position is 40 hours a week and for a part-time permanent or time-limited position, it’s less than 40 hours a week. However, it’s best to contact the employing agency for specifics on the work schedule. Contact information is usually given at the very bottom of the job posting. The work schedule for a temporary full-time position is 30 or more hours per week and 29 or fewer hours per week for part-time temporary work.

Who is hiring?

State agencies across North Carolina are looking for qualified applicants (like you!) to do a lot of great things for the people and places in our state. Think, teaching kids about the environment, keeping our communities safe and healthy, getting people out on the road and, of course, taking care of river otters at the aquarium. 

Learn more about our state agencies and their available jobs. 

Where are jobs located? 

Jobs posted on our Job Opportunities website are located across North Carolina. You’ll find the location of each position in bold below the blue link to the job posting. Also, you can use the “Filter” option on the top right corner of the Job Opportunities page to filter by location. 

Can I apply for jobs with the State of North Carolina even though I don't live in North Carolina? 

Yes! Just keep in mind that some positions, once filled, require that you live within a certain geographic radius due to on-call, emergency availability, or other requirements. 

What counties are near larger cities and towns in NC? 

• Asheville (Buncombe, Yancey, McDowell, Madison, Haywood, Henderson)
• Boone (Watauga, Ashe, Wilkes, Caldwell, Avery)
• Charlotte (Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Iredell, Union, Catawba, Rowan, Gaston)
• Chapel Hill (Orange, Chatham, Alamance, Granville, Durham, Caswell, Person)
• Durham (Durham, Wake, Franklin, Orange, Chatham, Person, Granville)
• Fayetteville (Cumberland, Sampson, Bladen, Harnett, Johnston, Hoke, Robeson)
• Greensboro (Guilford, Forsyth, Davidson, Alamance, Chatham, Randolph, Stokes, Rockingham)
• Greenville (Pitt, Edgecombe, Beaufort, Greene, Wilson)
• Jacksonville (Onslow, Pender, Duplin, Carteret, Lenoir, Jones)
• Raleigh (Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham, Granville, Franklin, Johnston, Harnett, Nash, Wilson)
• Rocky Mount (Edgecombe, Nash, Halifax, Wilson, Pitt)
• Wilmington (New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Pender, Bladen, Sampson)
• Winston-Salem (Forsyth, Yadkin, Davie, Davidson, Randolph, Guilford) 

Do any jobs come with benefits? 

Yes! State employees in permanent and time-limited positions receive a number of valuable benefits in addition to their regular pay. Visit our Total Rewards page to learn more. Employees in temporary positions are not eligible for and do not receive state benefits. However, temporaries who work an average of 30 or more hours per week may be eligible for health insurance benefits through the NC State Health Plan. 

I have a federal pension. Will it transfer if I come to work for the State of North Carolina? 

The North Carolina Retirement Systems (NCRS) is a division of the Department of State Treasurer. NCRS administers the pension benefits for state and local government employees and can assist you with questions about participating in the Systems. Learn how you may be able to receive some credit for prior military or federal service. NCRS can be reached by phone at 919-814-4590 or by visiting myncretirement.com.

I need help finding a job. What state resources are available to me?

We’re glad you stopped by and we’re eager to help. The State of North Carolina offers several comprehensive resources to assist job seekers. These include: 

• Submit an Interest Card. When you submit an Interest Card to the NC Office of State Human Resources, one of our state recruitment consultants will reach out to you by phone, text, or email to give you personalized advice on how to search and apply for state jobs. We’ll also store your information in our job seeker database and actively search for state jobs that might be a good match for you. Please note that you’ll still need to apply for any jobs that we bring to your attention.
• Attend a job seeker workshop. We’re scheduling more of our popular job seeker workshops to help serve the needs of displaced workers. You’ll learn how to search and apply for state jobs, address the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) and Minimum Education and Experience Requirements (E&Es) on your state application, and what happens after you submit a state application. Details forthcoming.
• Visit an NCWorks Career Center. NCWorks, a service of the NC Department of Commerce, provides job seekers with practical tools to help you find work, improve your job-ready skills, and connect with employers. There are more than 70 NCWorks Career Centers across North Carolina. 

Where should I start searching for a job with the State of North Carolina? 

All open jobs are posted on our Job Opportunities website. 

Do I have to create an account on the Job Opportunities website to search for jobs? 

No, you may search for jobs without an account. However, you’ll need an account before applying online for jobs. 

What are some ways to search for state jobs? 

From the Job Opportunities website, you can scroll down to view all available jobs. Those identified as “new” were posted in the past two days. When you find an opportunity that interests you, click on the job title (blue link) to learn more, to print the posting, or to apply. 

You can also search, sort, and filter jobs by certain criteria, such as by salary, length of time the job has been posted, location, and more. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you use these options: 

• Most jobs are listed by county, with a few listed as regional, statewide, or out-of-state.
• Locate jobs by narrowing your search criteria. Do this by selecting job category, county, department (agency), remote, and/or keyword search.
• When searching by location, please note that results frequently include neighboring counties. State agencies posting jobs often list several surrounding counties in addition to the actual work location.
• If your search includes items from several categories and no results appear, this means that no postings meet all the criteria you specified. 

Consider subscribing to “Job Alerts” to receive email notifications when jobs are posted in categories you selected. To change or cancel “Job Alert” emails, click on the link near the bottom of the “Job Alert” email.

What do I need to apply for jobs using the online state application? 

You’ll need to sign up for a free user account on GovernmentJobs.com by creating a username and password. You can access the sign-up page by clicking the “Sign In” button on the upper right corner of our Job Opportunities site and “Create One” at the bottom of the window. From there, you’ll need the information required to complete the state application, including your contact information and details about any education and work experience you have. You will need to create a basic application template before applying for a job with a North Carolina state agency. 

What is a GovernmentJobs.com user account? 

A user account is created when you establish a username and password with GovernmentJobs.com and provide your name, address, and other basic information. Your user account is also known as your “User Profile,” which serves as a gateway into the system to apply for jobs, check the status of submitted applications, or to edit or update your profile. 

When setting up a user account, remember to write down and keep safe the username and password you select. Knowing these exactly as you set them up is essential for easy system reentry. 

Who should I contact for technical assistance with my GovernmentJobs.com user account? 

For help with technical issues with your user account, such as creating an account, resetting your password, or if you have lost access to your email address on file, please contact the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Team at 1-855-524-5627. The state does not have access to your GovernmentJobs.com user account and is unable to reset your username or password. 

How do I apply for a job with the State of North Carolina? 

You can apply for jobs once you establish a GovernmentJobs.com user account and create a basic application template. 

To begin, search for jobs on our Job Opportunities website. Next, click on the job title (blue link) of the position you are interested in. When the posting appears, sign into your user account. Ensure that your application addresses all the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs), Minimum Education and Experience Requirements (E&E), and supplemental questions (if required) listed in the job posting. Finally, certify and submit your completed application. 

Do I have to apply for each job I’m interested in? 

Yes, you must apply for each job opening separately. Since each agency posts its own positions, screens and evaluates applications it receives, and selects its own employees, each job opportunity is treated as a single recruitment/selection “event.” 

What if I have questions about a job posting? 

You can communicate with the agency listing the job opportunity by using the contact information usually located in the last section of the posting (“Supplemental and Contact Information”). 

Although the NC Office of State Human Resources provides a host website for state employment opportunities, each agency posts, screens, communicates with and selects its employees. 

What are KSAs? And E&Es? 

At the bottom of each job posting, you’ll see a list of Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) as well as Minimum Education and Experience Requirements (E&Es). The Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) tell you what kind of experience the job requires. The Minimum Education and Experience Requirements (E&Es) tell you how much of this experience (and education, where applicable) the job requires. Be sure that you address each KSA on your state application. 

Example: If the E&Es require three years of directly related experience, your application must show that you performed each of the job’s KSAs for a total of at least three years. It doesn’t need to be with the same employer. 

It's important to note that North Carolina recognizes the value of directly related work experience and does not want the lack of a degree to be a barrier to starting or advancing a career in state government. Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears in the job posting, then you may qualify through either:

Years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both.

How do I know if my combined education and experience are equivalent to the education and experience requirement on a job posting? 

The state’s Education and Experience Equivalency Guide can help you to determine if you have the combined equivalent combination. Essentially, the training and experience that you list on your application must have given you the knowledge, skills and abilities/competencies that would have otherwise been attained with the education. 

What do I need to know to ensure that I receive educational credit? 

Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. 

Applicants who obtained their education outside of the United States and its territories are expected to assume responsibility for having their academic degrees validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Here are two of several organizations that perform this service: 

• International Education Research Foundation
• World Education Services, Incorporated

How can I best represent myself in the application? 

Be honest, truthful and thorough on your application. Information omitted from your application, even if included on the built-in text resume or an attached resume, is not creditable as qualifying experience. 

Can I submit a resume instead of a state application?

A resume cannot be accepted in lieu of a state application. However, resumes are useful when looking for temporary work. When you email your resume to Temporary Solutions, the temporary staffing service of the NC Office of State Human Resources, at tsrecruit@nc.gov, your information is stored in a database and may be shared with employing agencies looking for temporary workers. Temporary Solutions will still require you to complete a state application in the later stages of the recruitment and hiring process.

How do I reset my GovernmentJobs.com username or password? 

Clicking on “I forgot my username and/or password” within the sign-in box leads to instructions for sending your username and/or a password reset to the email you registered with. This works only when you exactly match the email and first and last name you registered with. 

For additional assistance, please contact the GovernmentJobs.com Applicant Support Team at 1-855-524-5627. 

I’ve created an account and saved my basic application template. How do I apply for a specific job? 

Click on the orange “Search Jobs” box. Locate the position you want to apply for and click on the job title (blue link) to open the posting. 

Click on “Apply” located above and to the right of the “Description of Work” section of the posting. Clicking on “Apply” opens the sign-in box. To access your account, and any application(s) and supplemental attachments you stored there, input your username and password. 

Next, you can use the basic application template you created, edit your application as needed, and complete the remaining sections of the application: agency wide questions, any supplemental questions pertaining to the particular opportunity, application review/confirmation, and certification/submission. 

Additional information about applying, as well as system access and use, is available just above the sign-in box and in the GovernmentJobs.com Online Employment Application Guide. 

How do I save an application I’ve started? 

You must click “Save” to retain information you have entered into an application you've started. If you close your browser before saving it, the information you entered after the last time you saved it will be lost. 

Clicking the back button on your toolbar will result in the loss of unsaved information. As you complete application sections, there are opportunities to save, review, edit and even spell check your information, so use of the back button is unnecessary. 

You may “save your work in progress” to come back to it later or “save and proceed” to continue to another application section. 

After 30 minutes of inactivity, you will be logged out. Typing does not count as activity to extend your session, but “save” actions do. 

If your attempt to save a section bounces back to the screen you were on with required item(s) (denoted by an asterisk on the application form) that you still need to complete now showing in red, finish the required item(s) and then save. 

What do I need to know about attachments to my application? 

Most standard file extensions and many picture viewer extensions that result from scanning documents are accepted (i.e. PDF, .doc, .docx, .txt, .bmp, .gif, .jpeg, .png, .tif, etc.). Attachments larger than 5MB ill not attach. If your file is larger than 5MB, you will need to reduce the file size. Also, make sure the file you are trying to attach is closed before you attempt to attach it. 

Do I have to include my Social Security number on my application? 

The application requests only the last four digits of your SSN. These are used by state HR Representatives to help identify each job applicant. 

Do I have to answer “Agency Wide Questions” each time I apply? 

No. Once you answer these questions in your initial application, they will be saved. You can then review/edit your responses and click on “Save and Proceed” when filling out subsequent applications. 

Why does the application ask for demographic information? 

Demographic information is used solely to evaluate recruitment programs and to prepare statistical reports for state and federal regulators. Information you provide regarding age, race and sex is viewable only by state HR staff and is kept confidential from hiring managers. 

How does my status as a Veteran of the United States military affect my job seeking process with the State of North Carolina? 

North Carolina is a military-rich state and we’re proud to welcome veterans to apply for state government jobs. State law requires that employment preferences be given for having served in the Armed Forces of the United States on active duty (for reasons other than training) during periods of war or any other campaign, expedition, or engagement for which a campaign badge or medal is authorized by the United States Department of Defense. Veterans who are not current state employees are eligible for a hiring preference if they are equally qualified to other applicants in the pool. All veterans, including current and potential state employees, may be eligible for up to four years of experience credit for their military service that is unrelated to the job for which they are applying.

When completing your state application for employment, be sure to indicate your veteran status by answering the veteran-specific questions. These are typically included in the “Agency Questions” near the end of the application.

What happens when I submit my application? 

When you apply for a position directly through our Job Opportunities website, your state application is transmitted directly to the employing state agency. (For temporary positions advertised by Temporary Solutions, the application is sent to Temporary Solutions first, then the employing agency.) Applicants who submit their applications online are emailed electronic confirmation upon receipt. 

An HR Representative will review your application to determine if you meet the minimum requirements for the job. These requirements are listed in the Knowledges, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) and Minimum Education and Experience Requirements sections on each job posting (see the Preparing to Apply for State Jobs section for more information). If you qualify for the position, your application will be sent to the hiring manager. The hiring manager will decide who to interview and, ultimately, hire. Agencies are responsible for determining types and content of messages and frequency of communication with applicants. 

How do I check the status of my application? 

Log in to your GovernmentJobs.com user account and choose the “Application Status” tab. There, you can review an application(s) you submitted and view message updates or the status history of your application. 

Some state agencies send emails, texts, or letter updates to applicants. Other agencies send notices only to the most competitively qualified subset of applicants relative to others applying for the opportunity. The length of time for the selection process is highly variable. 

Can I make changes to an application I submitted? 

You cannot change an application you have already certified and submitted. However, if the position is still open, you may reapply. Be sure to pay attention to any error messages you receive when attempting to reapply. You may only reapply once every 24 hours. 

I have applied for many state jobs. Why have I not gotten an interview or an offer? 

The State of North Carolina receives thousands of job applications most days. Sometimes, there are several hundred applications for one position. Here are some common factors affecting how an application progresses through the recruitment process: 

• Be sure that the work experience you list on your application addresses all of the Knowledges, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) required on the job posting. Please review our FAQ on Knowledges, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) and Minimum Education and Experience Requirements (EEs) for more information.
• Although the education, experience, knowledge, skills abilities/competencies shown on your application may result in a determination that you are qualified, your application may not be among the most competitively qualified.
• The people invited for interviews and the candidate offered the job are among the most competitively qualified relative to others applying for an opportunity. For example, if 100 applications are received, and 70 of these are regarded as qualified, perhaps 10 of the 70 will be determined to be most competitively qualified. Of those, perhaps the top five in terms of relative merit, will be invited for interviews. 

Some salary ranges are quite wide. If hired, what can I expect as a starting salary? 

Salaries depend on budget, related experience, competitiveness of qualifications and what others doing similar work earn. 

How can I compare federal and state job classifications? 

Classification specifications, or class specs, are broad summaries of the essential duties and responsibilities of a job. The state maintains over 1,400 class specs and publishes them alphabetically on the NC OSHR Classification and Compensation Section class specs webpages. 

Each classification is assigned a salary grade and corresponding salary range. When reviewing the state’s class specs webpages, each classification’s assigned salary grade can be found to the right of the classification title. Clicking on the classification’s salary grade will take you to a table of each grade’s salary range.