Veteran Employment Benefits & Hiring Preferences by State

Most states offer employment-related benefits to veterans, including hiring preferences for government positions, professional license fee waivers, and specialized job placement programs. These benefits can give you a significant advantage in the job market. Here is what each state provides.

38States with Strong Benefits

2States with Partial Benefits

11Not Listed / Limited

Property Tax Exemptions Education & Tuition Benefits Hunting & Fishing Licenses Income Tax Benefits Employment Benefits Housing Assistance

State-by-State Comparison

Strong / Full BenefitPartial / Conditional BenefitNot Listed in Key Benefits

Alabama(AL)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full AlabamaGuide →State DVA

Arizona(AZ)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (50%+ disability)

Full ArizonaGuide →State DVA

Arkansas(AR)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (70%+ disability)

Full ArkansasGuide →State DVA

Colorado(CO)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (60%+ disability)

Full ColoradoGuide →State DVA

Connecticut(CT)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full ConnecticutGuide →State DVA

Delaware(DE)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (60%+ disability)

Full DelawareGuide →State DVA

Florida(FL)Strong

✓Free Gold Sportsman hunting/fishing license (100% disability)

Full FloridaGuide →State DVA

Georgia(GA)Strong

✓Free honorary hunting/fishing license (50%+ disability)

Full GeorgiaGuide →State DVA

Hawaii(HI)Strong

✓Free hunting license for disabled veterans

Full HawaiiGuide →State DVA

Idaho(ID)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full IdahoGuide →State DVA

Illinois(IL)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (50%+ disability)

Full IllinoisGuide →State DVA

Indiana(IN)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full IndianaGuide →State DVA

Iowa(IA)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full IowaGuide →State DVA

Kansas(KS)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (30%+ disability)

Full KansasGuide →State DVA

Kentucky(KY)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full KentuckyGuide →State DVA

Louisiana(LA)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (50%+ disability)

Full LouisianaGuide →State DVA

Maine(ME)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full MaineGuide →State DVA

Maryland(MD)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full MarylandGuide →State DVA

Michigan(MI)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full MichiganGuide →State DVA

Minnesota(MN)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full MinnesotaGuide →State DVA

Mississippi(MS)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full MississippiGuide →State DVA

Montana(MT)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full MontanaGuide →State DVA

Nevada(NV)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (50%+ disability)

Full NevadaGuide →State DVA

New Hampshire(NH)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full New HampshireGuide →State DVA

New Mexico(NM)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full New MexicoGuide →State DVA

New York(NY)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (40%+ disability)

Full New YorkGuide →State DVA

North Carolina(NC)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (50%+ disability)

Full North CarolinaGuide →State DVA

North Dakota(ND)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (50%+ disability)

Full North DakotaGuide →State DVA

Oklahoma(OK)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (60%+ disability)

Full OklahomaGuide →State DVA

Oregon(OR)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (25%+ disability)

Full OregonGuide →State DVA

Pennsylvania(PA)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (60%+ disability)

Full PennsylvaniaGuide →State DVA

Rhode Island(RI)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full Rhode IslandGuide →State DVA

South Dakota(SD)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full South DakotaGuide →State DVA

Tennessee(TN)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full TennesseeGuide →State DVA

Vermont(VT)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (50%+ disability)

Full VermontGuide →State DVA

Virginia(VA)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full VirginiaGuide →State DVA

West Virginia(WV)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full West VirginiaGuide →State DVA

Wyoming(WY)Strong

✓Free hunting & fishing license (100% disability)

Full WyomingGuide →State DVA

South Carolina(SC)Partial

✓Discounted hunting & fishing licenses

Full South CarolinaGuide →State DVA

Washington D.C.(DC)Partial

✓Veterans preference in DC government hiring

Full Washington D.C.Guide →State DVA

Alaska(AK)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Alaska benefits

Full AlaskaGuide →State DVA

California(CA)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full California benefits

Full CaliforniaGuide →State DVA

Massachusetts(MA)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Massachusetts benefits

Full MassachusettsGuide →State DVA

Missouri(MO)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Missouri benefits

Full MissouriGuide →State DVA

Nebraska(NE)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Nebraska benefits

Full NebraskaGuide →State DVA

New Jersey(NJ)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full New Jersey benefits

Full New JerseyGuide →State DVA

Ohio(OH)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Ohio benefits

Full OhioGuide →State DVA

Texas(TX)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Texas benefits

Full TexasGuide →State DVA

Utah(UT)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Utah benefits

Full UtahGuide →State DVA

Washington(WA)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Washington benefits

Full WashingtonGuide →State DVA

Wisconsin(WI)Not Listed

Employment Benefits details not listed in key benefits overview. View full Wisconsin benefits

Full WisconsinGuide →State DVA

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Explore Other Benefit Topics

🏠Property Tax Exemptions

Compare veteran property tax exemptions in all 50 states. Find disabled veteran property tax breaks, homestead exemptions, and surviving spouse benefits by state.

🎓Education & Tuition Benefits

Compare veteran education benefits by state. Find free tuition programs, GI Bill supplements, tuition waivers, and dependent education benefits for veterans.

🎣Hunting & Fishing Licenses

Compare free hunting and fishing licenses for veterans by state. Find which states offer free or discounted licenses for disabled veterans.

💰Income Tax Benefits

Compare state income tax benefits for veterans. Find which states exempt military retirement pay, VA disability pay, and other military income from state taxes.

🏡Housing Assistance

Compare veteran housing benefits by state. Find state home loan programs, housing assistance, veterans homes, and home improvement programs for veterans.

← Back to All Veteran Benefits