Local government (read time: 20 min)
So you want to work in Local Government?
Note一this guide is focused on towns and municipalities. Click here for the overall Government Guide, here for the State Government Guide, here for the Campaign Guide, or here for the US Legislature Guide.
Working for local government, whether in your hometown or a town you plan to call home, can yield unique opportunities for a direct impact on your community. Positions in local government will give you a peek into the inner workings of your county or city and allow you to develop an intimate understanding of how “this government thing” really works. Careers in local government give you the chance to invest in your community and see tangible results of your work, often in real-time. Issues such as increasing access to broadband, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and implementing diversity and equity community strategies can (and should!) all happen at the higher levels of government (federal/state). Nonetheless, these government bodies are often slower to act and implement policies and practices than local entities. The “real and raw” nature of local government is also appealing to many, thanks to the ease of making connections “across the aisle” and the lack of significant lobbying influence or media attention in this sphere. Within local government jobs, there is a wide range of entry-level responsibilities, hiring practices, hours, and pay--which largely depend on the geographic location and size of the municipality or county. If this career path sounds exciting to you, this guide will take you through everything you need to know about getting involved in local government.To inform our work, Second Day has spoken to experts in the field and gathered the best information out there for upcoming and recent graduates. First, the guide will take you through the different entry-level positions to look out for in this field. Then, we’ll provide tips on actually getting those jobs in local government. We’ll finish with our next three steps: actionable items you can take to make progress towards finding your first job in local government. Let’s get started! Mayor 2030, here we come!
This guide was written by Phil Dearing and Sonia Gupta (SDIF '20) in partnership with the Second Day team.
Many thanks to experts in the field who supported this work:
Brigit Goebelbecker, New York City Economic Development Corporation
Joe Grochmal, City of Great Barrington
Richard Madrigal, Texas State Capitol
Maya Pace, Lead for America
Will Poff-Webster, Boston City Council
Scott Syroka, City Council member at City of Johnston, Iowa
Definitions
So what do we mean by local government?
When talking about local government, we are excluding state governments and cities with over 100,000 residents. Those larger entities have more established teams and structures, which you can learn more about in our State Government Guide. This isn’t a strict definition, and some municipalities with more than 100,000 residents will act like a smaller entity, while some towns with fewer residents will be structured like a bigger city. In general, local government is organized into one of four main organizational structures:
COUNTY: There are over 3,000 counties in the US. Some areas are primarily controlled at the county-level. They are typically controlled by a county executive and county commissioners.
MUNICIPALITY OR TOWNSHIP: These are the 26,000 traditional cities, towns, or villages that are incorporated as such. They are typically controlled by a mayor or town manager along with a town council.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS: There are about 13,000 school districts across the US. These are typically established within the borders of a town or county but sometimes have their own boundaries. They are often controlled by a local school board and superintendent, but can also be controlled by the state government.
SPECIAL PURPOSE DISTRICTS: There are over 35,000 special purpose districts across the US for local government services such as utility provision, fire, police, libraries, etc. Sometimes, these special purpose districts fall within a county, municipal, or school district boundaries, but sometimes they are their own, distinct entities.
It is important to note that wherever you live likely falls within all of these different layers of government. How they are structured and how powerful a given layer varies widely across and within states. In general, state constitutions dictate what power different levels of local government have. Keep reading to learn more about the typical responsibilities of local government and thus what roles might be available to you.
What about big cities?
“Big cities” is a nebulous term that, for our purposes, generally refers to cities with populations greater than 300,000. Think of the top 10 cities in the country一their demographics, geographies, infrastructure一and then think about...everywhere else. This guide is widely applicable to everywhere else, and less applicable to the largest cities. Working in big city government fits somewhere between working for state governments and local governments. There is a lot in common with states一state governments generally have three main stakeholders: (1) the governor’s office, (2) state departments and agencies, (3) the state legislature. While large cities use different terms, the actual roles and mechanisms are often quite similar, with three main stakeholders: (1) the mayor’s office, (2) city departments and agencies, and (3) the city council. Importantly, the resources available to big cities and the corresponding size of their staff can be significantly larger than states. In fact, New York City’s Budget ($88B) is bigger than that of 45 States (a smaller big city like Seattle has a budget equivalent to the ten smallest States, between $5B-$10B). The work that is done within these levels of government and the strategies for securing jobs are very similar一more network driven than federal government, but more structured than local government.Big cities are similar to local governments in how deeply connected the work is to your neighbors. Working for any size city means that the train you take, the park you run through, and the school system you attend is something your colleagues have significant influence over. This intimate connection to “on the ground” activities is powerful in local government and a significant benefit of working for a city. At the same time, the level of relationship building required to work in the governments of small towns and municipalities is far greater than in big cities. Big cities are more likely to have structured internship programs, online resources describing how the city government is organized, and calendars of events where you can get involved. Smaller municipalities require much more networking and in-person research to understand how, where, and when you can get your foot in the door.
This guide will focus primarily on these smaller municipalities and the specific nuances of how to thrive in local government. If you are interested in big city government, make sure you read our overall Government Guide and the State Government Guide to get a comprehensive understanding of what tips and tricks to apply to your big city government job search.
What types of roles exist in State Government?
Common local government departments and functions
As you begin exploring careers in local government, it is critical to understand what is governed locally (vs at a state or national level). The categories listed below represent the most common responsibilities at the local level, but the magnitude of these responsibilities varies widely.
TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
While some infrastructure is handled on a state or federal level, a lot is handled on a local level. For transportation, this includes roads and bridges, airports, and public transportation. Some local government jobs are focused on construction or maintenance, while others focus on ongoing transportation operations. Many local governments will also build or support public facilities like parks or community centers. Local governments either operate or work with private sector businesses to ensure that sewage, utilities, telecommunications, recycling, and waste management operates smoothly.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
Counties invest substantially in the health of their local communities. Often there is a large focus on public health一providing health information and preventing and responding to emergencies. Local government is also a critical safety net for low-income residents, ensuring that there are healthcare options for those with medicaid or no insurance at all. Counties help coordinate across private providers and encourage the adoption of more resources for those with addiction, mental health challenges, or disabilities. For more information, see the Second Day Public Health career guide.
CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM AND PUBLIC SAFETY
Local governments often control the firefighters, ambulances, and police officers in their geographies. Local governments also manage the majority of the criminal legal system in the US. That means counties are involved in decisions around sentencing guidelines, building jails, juvenile courts, public defender funding, coroners, and everything else along that spectrum. One of the challenges that criminal justice reformers have faced over the years is that change often requires buy-in from local judges and prosecutors, many of whom are elected. If this is something you are passionate about, this is an area where strong local advocacy can make systemic change happen quickly, and there is room for innovation.
HUMAN SERVICES
Local government plays a vital role in the social safety net in the US. Often, federal funding for food, schools, workforce development, housing, and many other causes are actually delivered through local government. Across the country, more than 250,000 people are employed in human services. The types of programs vary widely depending on community need, but they could include: financial assistance, violence prevention, nutrition services, early childhood programs, workforce training, veteran services, elder care, behavioral health services, parental education, foster care, homelessness support, support of individuals with disabilities, and many more areas.
GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT Local government is responsible for so many of the silent mechanics that make communities thrive. This includes running elections, record keeping, and tax assessments, land use or zoning decisions, maintaining public spaces, and providing grants to nonprofits. Local government is also involved in supporting small businesses and ensuring that the whole community is connected and thriving.
Common local government job titles
As evidenced by the diversity of focus areas listed above, there are a wide variety of roles you can pursue as you begin your career in local government. While Engaging Local Government Leaders and PublicServiceCareers.org have stepped up to aggregate job listings from around the country, most jobs are posted on discrete department webpages (which can be frustratingly challenging to navigate). If you want to work in government long term, it’s good to keep an open mind to lower level admin roles and be willing to work your way up!
Below, we’ve outlined some of the most common roles in government, but a general theme we will mention throughout this guide is that exact roles and titles vary by geography and so it is important to apply this guide in the context of your local community. It is also critical to remember that local government is small by nature, and so the teams and departments are correspondingly small.
DIRECT SERVICE WORK
The majority of local government roles are in direct community service provision. That could mean being a firefighter, a public works staffer, or a childcare worker. You can be involved in transportation, community health, or human services. Many employees in these roles are career-track folks with a deep connection to the community, and these positions can be a great way to (re)establish your roots.
TOPIC ANALYST ROLES (POLICY ANALYST/ASSISTANT TO X)
This can look like working in the city manager’s office helping with operations (general skills), or working in the community development department as a housing policy analyst (topic specific). Young people are particularly well suited for fundraising and grant-related roles, as this area is frequently in demand in local government. Sometimes topic analyst roles involve handling large federal or state grants, while other times they involve applying for grants from local foundations. If you have a strong interest in policy research, there will often be opportunities for recent graduates on topics such as environmental sustainability, housing, workforce development, and public health (See Second Day’s Policy + Research guide for more information). Generally, it is important to have some sort of academic or internship experience here that is relevant to the position and proves that you will be able to do the job. These roles typically have the word “Analyst” attached to job titles or are assistant positions (Assistant to City Manager, etc).
PROJECT COORDINATORS/MANAGERS
While Policy Analysts are conducting research on local policy, Project Coordinators are managing how a city’s money is used. They design interventions, write contracts, identify partners to run projects, and then manage those partners. This is a hands-on form of grants administration. Depending on when you join the team, you could be strategizing about a future project, designing the initiative, selecting the contractor, writing/negotiating the contracts, managing the contract, or closing the project. As a result, these roles can be an exciting look into the “lifecycle” of a locally-funded project, and your day-to-day job could change immensely month to month. One month you could be negotiating with a venture capital firm about launching a business accelerator in your city, the next month you could be writing talking points for the mayor about the accelerator’s opening, the next month you could be speaking to a class of high schoolers about how they can get internships at the accelerator.
COMMUNICATIONS
Communications staff usually work for an elected representative or support a government agency in their communications department. For larger teams, some roles will just focus on communications (newsletters, graphic design, social media), while other roles will also include constituent engagement, policy development, or other necessary roles. See Second Day’s Communications guide for more information.
BUILD YOUR OWN ROLE
Because you are probably too humble to say it, we’ll say it for you一you are special. You may be ambitious and eager to take on a role that shapes the strategy and future of a local community. If that is the case, you can consider reaching out to your local community leadership and see if they are open to working with you to develop a new role that leaves more room for you to think strategically in addition to executing on key government priorities. Programs like Lead For America’s Hometown Fellows can also help to find funding to make this possible.
Local (but not government) jobs
In local government, budgets are very tight. There simply aren’t that many full-time positions beyond direct service roles. Most City Councilors work full-time in another job and local boards are staffed by volunteers. If none of the full-time roles available in your community make sense for you, you can still have a strong impact on your community by working a government-adjacent job. The following are job opportunities that will intersect with local government and provide a pathway and connections to future roles in local government (ways to get your foot in the door):
Nonprofits working in the community you’re interested in, particularly community hubs like the United Way or organizations that focus on lobbying for policy change. They often work closely with local government and other relevant actors and can provide a way into that work by supporting vulnerable community members.
Media and news groups can provide unique opportunities to network with local leaders. Internships, freelance, or entry-level positions can all provide opportunities to get engaged with local issues and to help inform the public.
Regional planning/economic development corporations/business networks work with different levels of government and local businesses. Sometimes these associations can be independent business-led organizations and sometimes they can be government-led entities with a focus on supporting the local economy. If you are interested in public-private partnerships, these organizations will give you a close-up view of the complexities of working at the intersection of business and politics.
Philanthropists often have a strong local focus. They are in touch with community needs and fund programs that are vital to specific geographies. If you get a job with a community foundation or locally-focused philanthropist, that is a great way to understand both the public and social sector. To learn more about working at a foundation, check out our Second Day Philanthropy Guide.
Community organizing (issue-based, tenant, or union organizing) involves advocating for your community and will help you get a close look at what works and what doesn’t in your local government. You will likely engage directly with local government officials, and you will learn the in’s and out’s of “the system,” usually with an emphasis on how the system is failing certain communities. To learn more about working in community organizing, check out our Second Day Community Organizing Guide.
Entrepreneurship can be an exciting option if you are business-minded and have ideas to pitch locally. This could include starting your own business or working for a local startup. See our Second Day Social Entrepreneurship Guide.
Local government by the numbers (pay and hours)
Salaries range widely based on where in the country you are working. Though you shouldn’t expect to get rich working in local government, government employees typically receive a good benefits package and stable salaries (often starting at ~$40K). Smaller cities will provide smaller salaries accordingly, but your costs of living will also be lower. Many government salaries are public, so you can check them out as benchmarks as you evaluate jobs. Hours also greatly depend on what you are doing. If you are in direct service work, your hours will be shaped by what role you are serving in the community. If you are in more of a “desk job,” then hours will typically be 9-5, but often involve the expectation that you show up to community events on the evenings or weekends.
SeeThroughNY is an example of a New York specific resource; take some time to browse public salaries for the locations you’re interested in. Iowa Salary Book or St. Louis Salaries are other examples. A simple google search for ‘location + public salaries’ should surface a resource in most cases.
How to get a job in local government
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Local government roles vary greatly depending on location, which means your search will have to be place-based. For this reason, it’s best to anchor yourself in a community you are familiar with. This can be where you went to college, where you grew up, where you have family currently, or anywhere else where you have a personal connection. This knowledge will allow you to network more effectively and will allow you to stand out as an applicant because of your personal ties to the place. If you harbor dreams of working somewhere where you have no personal connection, it will likely be tougher to get your foot in the door, but not impossible with the right networking. It can also be helpful to think about where you want to work from a resource lens, given that larger states and cities have more money to implement creative, larger interventions. There are pros and cons to this, but the size of the place, demographics, and priorities of leadership will dictate your life and what resources you have to do your work.
NETWORKING
Postings are generally circulated internally or through local sources rather than traditional job boards. Therefore, networking is crucial in this sector. It will allow you to figure out what opportunities are even available, and the smaller the town you are looking at, the more critical it is that you are connected with people currently engaged in local government. Once again, different regions have different organizational structures, so doing in-depth research on the municipality’s governing structure and conducting informational interviews while you’re still early in the job search will help you identify what approach is best for you. If you have no idea where to begin, find anyone involved in local politics一a reporter, a professor, a staff aid, a volunteer, organizer, or business person. If you start asking questions about different committees, boards, and power structures in the city, that first person can often help connect you with other people in the community. Don’t be afraid to ask dumb questions at first一most people don’t understand how local government actually works in their community.
Networking can also involve attending town meetings, cross-cultural committees, and whatever else the community in question does to publicly engage constituents. Show up and learn about what’s going on, what projects are priorities, and who to connect with. These meetings often require showing up on a weeknight, and they are a gathering spot for those most engaged in politics in your community. Local elected officials, engaged citizens, and other influential community members come to these meetings and are eager to meet young people passionate about community change. Making yourself known as someone who cares about the community will help you go far in local government.
FOCUS ON A SPECIFIC FIELD
If you are really passionate about a particular topic area, like sustainability or housing, that can be a great way to differentiate and market yourself when applying to jobs. Having that sort of focus is not necessary, however. Many government employees are generalists and/or have a skill-focused role. Depending on where you want to work, your interests and the skills you bring accordingly can vary in importance. If you want to work at your city’s Department of Transportation, for example, it would be great to care a lot about transit and people who bring more nuanced skills and experiences will stand out. See our Second Day Housing Guide for more information.
Getting your foot in the door
INTERNSHIPS
The easiest way to get a job in local government jobs is to take an internship with a department or elected official that you want to work with. Outside of the biggest state/city legislators or committees, there is rarely a formal internship program. That means that if you send an email to a local elected official asking to get more involved, they are often delighted to have you. If you can come into the office 2 days per week (8-12 hours per week), that is enough time to make an impact. Doing this type of internship is the easiest way to get to know the local political landscape and land a full-time role after graduation. Be warned, though, that while it is possible to pitch paid work, many local government roles do not pay their interns (though “Pay Our Interns” is working to change that!).
There are also college/university programs (so check with your school and career office) that pair you with local government offices and sometimes offer stipends or support during your placement. Usually, you will begin as an intern and can move up with experience and time committed. Universities can also provide opportunities to network with local government officials.
VOLUNTEERING OR WORKING ON A LOCAL CAMPAIGN
While national and state-wide campaigns have hundreds of staff members, many local campaigns have much smaller teams. A city council, state representative, or mayoral candidate’s campaign might have only a few full-time staff. This means that they will notice and appreciate it if you sign up to help them make phone calls, knock on doors, or help out their campaign in any way. This experience will provide great exposure to the candidate and other engaged citizens and staff in the area. Those people can serve as a great network to help you find a full-time role working in government once you graduate! See our Second Day Political Campaign Guide for more information.
FELLOWSHIPS
Two reputable fellowships are Lead for America (focused on municipal and county governments) and Govern for America (focused on state governments). Both are great programs that provide opportunities for upward mobility and training structures that might not typically exist in government roles otherwise.
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS
Every city across the country has “boards” and “commissions,” such as planning and zoning commissions, parks and recreation boards (hey Pawnee, Indiana!), sustainability task forces, universal broadband commissions, you name it. While the specific entities vary based on each municipality’s specific priorities, it is worth exploring what options in your area are exciting to you. Many boards and commissions offer volunteer opportunities, and these can be excellent ways to get your foot in the door of local government. If you’re not ready to take on a serious volunteer role (such as Community Board Events Coordinator), you can often sit in on the meetings of these entities anyway. Most meetings are open to the public, and attending your community board or other commission meetings is one way to demonstrate your commitment to your community on a job application. Some boards and commissions even have a staff or team supporting their work if they are large enough.
Exit opportunities
The skills and responsibilities you gain in local government can often outshine those of a private sector entry-level employee if you are clear in your narrative and how you quantify your accomplishments. By now, you know that local government is complicated and nuanced, so you cannot assume someone will understand the depths of your role from a simple job title. Instead, it is critical to clearly translate the skills you built and responsibility you had in a digestible way for employers from other sectors.
Working for a few years in city government can position you exceptionally well for any roles in public service. But if you realize government isn’t your thing, these roles can also position you to transition to work for a nonprofit, the private sector, or even position you to run for office yourself. Remember that government touches everything. You can use your time in government to both assess what sectors have the most impact in your community and gain the connections and experience you need to leap to that sector.
Next three steps
Identify where you want to base your job search. Is it your hometown? Somewhere else?
Talk to people in this community who are working in local government to understand how it is structured, what opportunities exist, and where you might fit in. Begin establishing yourself in your community by attending events or volunteering. If you are really serious about this work, developing some specialized knowledge would be a huge asset. Taking undergrad classes on transit and housing policy, for example, or finding outside opportunities to learn about specific focus areas will really aid your work.
Get your foot in the door by interning, volunteering, working on a campaign, or through an adjacent industry. There is often room to work your way up once you are in a position!
Last updated: July 2021