Uncle Sam is looking for more than a few good men and women, and not just to serve in the armed forces. From cemetery workers to nuclear physicists, the federal government has tens of thousands of job openings that in many cases pay more and offer better benefits than similar jobs in the private sector.

“There are abundant job opportunities out there if you know where to seek them out,” says Dennis V. Damp, who managed the Greater Pittsburgh International Airport’s air traffic control tower for the Federal Aviation Administration. Damp was on the leading edge of the baby boomer exodus from the work force when he retired in 2005 after 35 years of federal service. Now, more than half of all 2.7 million federal employees are eligible for regular or early retirement and “the government is aggressively hiring,” says Damp.

The nonprofit group Partnership for Public Service reports that 80 percent of new hires are for positions in security, medicine and public health, accounting and contracting, sciences and program management. But at any given time, the government has openings in virtually every field. A recent search of the U.S. government’s official job site, www.usajobs.com, yielded more than 4,000 employment opportunities in California alone.

Working for the government differs in a lot of ways, both good and bad, from working in the private sector.

“The general advantage of working for the government hinges on the idea of stability,” says Tom Lash, president, Adecco Government Solutions, a staffing agency based in Alexandria, Va. “People who are employed by the government can expect certain things: a low chance of being laid off, guaranteed annual salary increases, regular promotions and clear expectations of job duties.”

Government employees also are entitled to robust benefit packages, including comprehensive health insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan and a tuition reimbursement program. According to the Department of Labor, government workers get more paid time off than many other employees, including 10 paid holidays, up to five weeks of vacation and 13 days of sick leave a year. Unused sick days accrue indefinitely. Damp sold a year’s worth back to Uncle Sam when he retired.

The government also offers recruitment incentives such as student loan payoffs and signing bonuses. “Applicants who aren’t offered should ask if they can receive an incentive if they sign up,” says Damp, author of The Book of U.S. Government Jobs, now in its 10th edition. “You can also negotiate salary, to a point.”

Despite its many positives, government employment is by no means utopian.

“Some of the cons might be that relocation is sometimes required, which is not a positive job attribute for some, and while there are many opportunities for promotions, there are rarely performance-based bonuses awarded,” Lash says.

Damp’s list of drawbacks includes the highly regimented, bureaucratic work environment and the extensive and complex government regulations workers must contend with.

Many people assume federal jobs don’t pay as well, and as such government work is sometimes stigmatized, Lash says. But comparative data compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that government salaries are more or less on par with private sector salaries and, depending on the position, may be significantly higher. For example, government accountants’ average salary was about $14,000 more than the national average ($74,907 vs. $58,020).

For as many positions as there are to fill, Uncle Sam won’t take just anyone off the street. “The best candidates for government positions are those who work well in a structured environment,” Lash says. “Certifications or degrees are a must and an ability to obtain security clearances is often a prerequisite. Non-degreed candidates and those who work best in an entrepreneurial environment or other nontraditional work settings would not do as well,” says Lash.

In addition, candidates’ résumés must meet specific criteria to earn enough “rating points” to qualify for an interview. For example, the work history and education sections must include the Duties and Specialized Experience requirements listed in the official job announcement. With all the required information, a résumé for a federal job should be three or four pages in length as opposed to the standard one- to two-page format.