In 1888, Evermann entered the service of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, became an ichthyologist in 1891, had charge of the division of scientific inquiry in 1903–1911, and from 1910 to 1914 was chief of the Alaska Fisheries Service.
Evermann began his career with the United States Bureau of Fisheries in 1888, became an ichthyologist in 1891, oversaw the division of scientific inquiry between 1903 and 1911, and acted as chief of the Alaska Fisheries Service from 1910 to 1914.