How do I get a USCF rating?

I've only played online so far so I want to try playing people in real life. I've heard that it's a completely different experience; how do I get there?

I think you have to register on their site, pay a fee, and then play in some over the board tournaments. I am not sure how this fee can be waved, or if it can be waved at all. Which is unfortunate since it naturally discourages people from registering.

https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess

You have to be a US Chess member to play rated chess. 

You can look to see if there is an affiliate local to you and/or find tournaments close to your location: https://new.uschess.org/play-chess

It's a non-profit membership organization. Membership fees are one way the organization funds itself. Occasionally there are some affiliates that will run events where new members get a membership with event entry, but that is pretty uncommon and is funded by the given affiliate.

 Yes, that's true. I am just observing the fact that because of the entry fees, and I think a yearly fee there is not much incentive for many players to join unless they have a reason to compete regularly.

There's always the option of unrated OTB events. I don't think the need to have a membership is that big of a deterrent to playing OTB tournaments for most people. For a more casual player, that and the entry fee may be though.

I'll add to this that a person can google [state name] + "chess association" and find information such as email addresses of local tournament organizers as well as local clubs and events. If a person is anxious about going to an event, it's simple enough to email the organizer their questions.

I'll also say that organizers (and most players) are welcoming to newcomers. If you showed up without a USCF membership I can imagine someone helping you through the online registration process.

Once I showed up a bit late and hadn't realized my membership was expired... the TD (tournament director) let me register and play anyway (with the promise that I'd renew my membership before the tournament had ended)... people are generally nice and helpful... mostly you just have to show up with the knowledge of how to play chess and money

This is one reason OTB tournaments are a bit different from online play. Players are giving up their money and time, so they tend to be better prepared and more focused. Of course some games are uncharacteristically bad (humans are still humans) but it is a different atmosphere and level of competition.

Money, for sure. "Knowledge of how to play chess" is, in my experience, optional.