USAJOBS API vs JSearch: U.S. federal jobs, free to reuse or Google for Jobs results by API
USAJOBS API is the official REST API for searching public U.S. federal government job announcements on USAJOBS. JSearch is a commercial job search API that returns live job postings and salary estimates gathered from Google for Jobs.
The short answer
- USAJOBS API: Authoritative, reusable data on U.S. federal government job openings.
- JSearch: Broad, Google-for-Jobs-style job search across many boards from one API.
Side by side
| USAJOBS API | JSearch | |
|---|---|---|
| Searches | Public job announcements posted on USAJOBS (status/internal jobs need extra steps); a single employer-side source, not an aggregator. | Aggregated postings via Google for Jobs, covering LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter and other public job sites. |
| Returns | JSON SearchResult items with PositionTitle, PositionURI, ApplyURI, OrganizationName, PositionLocation (with lat/long) and PositionRemuneration. | JSON jobs with job_id, job title, employer_name, job_publisher, job_city, job_country, job_min_salary, job_apply_link and apply_options; endpoints search-v2, job-details, company-job-salary, estimated-salary. |
| Before the first call | An API key requested through an application form (name, email, phone, organization, intended use); calls send Host, User-Agent (your email) and Authorization-Key headers. | An account and API key from the OpenWeb Ninja developer portal (also sold on RapidAPI). |
| Acting on a result | PositionURI/ApplyURI point to the announcement on usajobs.gov. | job_apply_link is the primary apply link; apply_options lists links from other publishers, each flagged is_direct. |
| Limits on keeping or showing results | Public Data may be copied, stored, republished and used commercially; attribution to USAJOBS is encouraged, not required; don't present modified data as official. Max 10,000 rows per query, 500 per page. | Not stated on its pages |
| Coverage | United States federal government jobs (in the U.S. and abroad). | Not stated on its pages |
| MCP server | No official server listed | Official OpenWeb Ninja MCP server (npm @openwebninja/mcp-server) includes a jsearch tool: https://github.com/OpenWeb-Ninja/openwebninja-mcp |
Where Openpath fits
If the agent needs a job to apply for in Austin, Texas, or a remote one, Openpath returns the listings themselves, free and with no key. See Openpath vs USAJOBS API and Openpath vs JSearch.
Questions people ask
What do I need before I can use USAJOBS API?
An API key requested through an application form (name, email, phone, organization, intended use); calls send Host, User-Agent (your email) and Authorization-Key headers.
Is USAJOBS API free?
Its pages listed no free use when we read them on October 15, 2026.
What do I need before I can use JSearch?
An account and API key from the OpenWeb Ninja developer portal (also sold on RapidAPI).
Is JSearch free?
Its pages listed no free use when we read them on October 15, 2026.
Sources
Every line about another company comes from its own pages. Prices and terms change, so check the source before you rely on one.
USAJOBS API, read on October 15, 2026:
- developer.usajobs.gov/guides/authentication: “To request an API Key, please go the the API Request page and fill out an application.”
- developer.usajobs.gov/apirequest: “Only public job information is available through this site.”
- developer.usajobs.gov/guides/rate-limiting: “Maximum of 10,000 rows per query”
- developer.usajobs.gov/guides/terms-of-service: “Public Data may be copied, stored, reformatted, adapted, analyzed, published, redistributed, and used for lawful commercial”
- developer.usajobs.gov/guides/terms-of-service: “OPM encourages users to identify USAJOBS as the source, link to the current official job announcement”
- developer.usajobs.gov/api-reference/get-api-search: “URI to apply for the job offering.”
- usajobs.gov/HiringPath/Public: “the official employment site for the federal government”
JSearch, read on October 15, 2026:
- agents.openwebninja.com/manifest.json: “Returns live job postings from Google for Jobs covering LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter and other public job sites”
- agents.openwebninja.com/zcj/v8c3szxamb6i/services/jsearch/openapi.json: “The primary link to apply for the job.”
- agents.openwebninja.com/zcj/v8c3szxamb6i/services/jsearch/openapi.json: “Alternative apply links from other publishers.”
- openwebninja.com/documentation: “Sign up, manage subscriptions, and access API keys”
- github.com/OpenWeb-Ninja/openwebninja-mcp: “Official Model Context Protocol server for OpenWeb Ninja APIs”