Records analyzed
13 sub-agencies
Cross-joined with state geography and occupational mix
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Open-data reference.
Federal workforce data for DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. This agency represents 2.1% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.
What the Numbers Say About DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE employs 47,410 federal civilian workers, which accounts for 2.1% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472 reported in the OPM FedScope March 2025 release. Compared to the prior period, headcount moved down by -2.1%, a signal that hiring authorities and attrition at this agency are shedding net positions during the current reporting window.
On compensation, the average salary of $127,933 sits 16.4% above the federal civilian average of $109,869. Average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE is 13.5 years, reflecting a workforce that has built institutional knowledge across 13 sub-agencies. For applicants comparing federal employers, this pay premium (or gap) combined with tenure patterns helps explain why some agencies retain staff through full careers while others cycle more rapidly through early-career hires.
Geographic reach is another signal of scale: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE has employees in 51 states and territories, with the largest concentration in MARYLAND (12,988 employees at $145,285 avg salary). Over the most recent 12 months of workforce-dynamics data, the agency recorded 0 accessions against 0 separations for a net change of 0 positions — useful context for job seekers evaluating whether DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE is expanding, contracting, or simply replacing departures. All figures draw directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes and update quarterly.
Workforce Overview
Employees
47,410
-2.1% from prior period
Average Salary
$127,933
+3.3%
Avg Length of Service
13.5 yrs
Sub-agencies
13
Data vintage
March 2025
OPM FedScope quarterly snapshot
Source authority
OPM FedScope
U.S. Office of Personnel Management — official federal HR data
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE pay vs. federal civilian average
Agency average $127,933 relative to federal average $109,869
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE workforce by GS grade tier
Estimated distribution of 47,410 employees across the General Schedule pay grades. Tier weights are modeled from the agency's average salary of $127,933, average length of service of 13.5 years, and sub-agency salary brackets. Color encodes pay-band tier (entry / mid / senior / executive).
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE — estimated GS-grade workforce mix. Source: OPM FedScope March 2025; pay tiers modeled from agency averages.
Salary Analysis
How DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE pay compares to the federal average of $109,869
Agency Average
$127,933
Federal Average
$109,869
vs. Federal Avg
+16.4%
Salary Range by Sub-agency
Under $80K
0
$80K–$100K
12,300
$100K–$120K
0
$120K–$150K
18,347
Over $150K
16,763
Sub-agencies & Organizational Units
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE has 13 sub-agencies. The highest-paying unit averages $162,906.
| Sub-agency | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE | 14,369 | $153,854 | 14.8 yrs |
| U.S. CENSUS BUREAU | 12,300 | $80,679 | 9.8 yrs |
| NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION | 12,267 | $130,666 | 15.2 yrs |
| NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY | 3,874 | $146,883 | 13.8 yrs |
| INTERNATIONAL TRADE ADMINISTRATION | 1,438 | $144,240 | 15.1 yrs |
| OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY | 1,036 | $151,673 | 13.9 yrs |
| NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION | 645 | $162,906 | 11.8 yrs |
| BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY | 509 | $149,096 | 14 yrs |
| BUREAU OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS | 446 | $151,803 | 16.2 yrs |
| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION | 225 | $141,525 | 11.4 yrs |
| OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL | 217 | $150,864 | 14.4 yrs |
| MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY | 50 | $150,582 | 14.2 yrs |
| NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICE | 34 | $146,237 | 22.1 yrs |
Geographic Presence
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE has employees in 51 states and territories. MARYLAND has the most with 12,988 employees.
| State | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARYLAND | 12,988 | $145,285 | 16.2 yrs |
| VIRGINIA | 6,948 | $159,593 | 16.9 yrs |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | 3,078 | $149,053 | 13.2 yrs |
| CALIFORNIA | 2,088 | $109,652 | 9.8 yrs |
| FLORIDA | 1,862 | $114,578 | 12.3 yrs |
| COLORADO | 1,634 | $135,693 | 11.7 yrs |
| TEXAS | 1,582 | $105,845 | 10.1 yrs |
| WASHINGTON | 1,214 | $125,500 | 13.7 yrs |
| NEW YORK | 1,009 | $101,154 | 9.2 yrs |
| INDIANA | 985 | $68,799 | 14.2 yrs |
| NORTH CAROLINA | 863 | $113,953 | 11.5 yrs |
| PENNSYLVANIA | 796 | $112,737 | 10.7 yrs |
| MASSACHUSETTS | 784 | $118,342 | 11.7 yrs |
| MICHIGAN | 647 | $110,023 | 9.7 yrs |
| ILLINOIS | 618 | $95,178 | 7.9 yrs |
| GEORGIA | 610 | $96,708 | 9.6 yrs |
| ALASKA | 527 | $117,031 | 11.9 yrs |
| NEW JERSEY | 518 | $115,981 | 9.6 yrs |
| SOUTH CAROLINA | 500 | $101,483 | 11.5 yrs |
| ARIZONA | 491 | $77,367 | 10.1 yrs |
Showing top 20 of 51 states
Workforce Dynamics
Monthly hiring and separation trends. Net change over 12 months: 0.
| Month | Accessions | Separations | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | +0 | -638 | -638 |
| Feb 2025 | +0 | -1,221 | -1,221 |
| Jan 2025 | +633 | -697 | -64 |
| Dec 2024 | +499 | -526 | -27 |
| Nov 2024 | +421 | -340 | +81 |
| Oct 2024 | +576 | -306 | +270 |
| Sep 2024 | +481 | -326 | +155 |
| Aug 2024 | +636 | -381 | +255 |
| Jul 2024 | +669 | -442 | +227 |
| Jun 2024 | +578 | -469 | +109 |
| May 2024 | +666 | -368 | +298 |
| Apr 2024 | +495 | -331 | +164 |
Hiring & Separation Reasons
Why employees join and leave DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Accession Reasons
New Hire - Excepted Service Appointment
2,836
New Hire - Competitive Service Appointment
2,606
Transfer In - Individual Transfer
212
Separation Reasons
Quit
2,333
Termination (Expired Appt/Other)
1,479
Retirement - Voluntary
1,117
Other Separation
913
Transfer Out - Individual Transfer
203
Employee Tenure Distribution
Average length of service is 13.5 years. Employees in sub-agencies grouped by average tenure.
Under 5 yrs
0
5–10 yrs
12,300
10–15 yrs
20,925
15–20 yrs
14,151
Over 20 yrs
34
Related Federal Data
Explore related salary, cost-of-living, and workforce data from other federal sources
WageDex — Salary Data
BLS occupation salary data for 831 occupations across all US metros. Compare federal vs. private sector pay.
PlainWorker — Worker Protections
OSHA inspection data and workplace safety records. See enforcement activity at federal and private employers.
PlainPension — Pension Data
Federal and private pension plan data. Explore retirement benefits for DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE employees.
PlainCost — Cost of Living
BEA Regional Price Parities for 387 metros. See how far your federal salary goes in different locations.
Federal Employment Guides
Learn more about working for the federal government
Similar-Sized Agencies
Federal agencies with a similar workforce size to DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION
56,263 employees $101,587 avg
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
57,204 employees $141,857 avg
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR
63,752 employees $95,844 avg
NAT AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
17,973 employees $152,463 avg
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
17,472 employees $145,574 avg
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
16,557 employees $134,437 avg
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE employs 47,410 federal workers as of March 2025. This represents 2.1% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average salary at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE? ▾
The average salary at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE is $127,933 per year, which is 16.4% above the federal average of $109,869.
What is the average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE? ▾
The average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE is 13.5 years. The federal average is 11.8 years.
How many sub-agencies does DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE have? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE has 13 sub-agencies or organizational units. The largest is PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE with 14,369 employees.
In how many states does DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE have employees? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE has employees in 51 states and territories. The largest concentration is in MARYLAND with 12,988 employees.
Is DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE hiring or downsizing? ▾
Over the most recent 12 months of data, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE had 0 accessions and 0 separations, for a net change of 0 employees.
Where can I find salary data for occupations at DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE? ▾
While PlainGovJobs provides agency-level salary data, you can explore detailed salary data by occupation on WageDex at wagedex.com, which covers 831 occupations with Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Data Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) FedScope Employment Cubes, March 2025. Federal civilian non-seasonal full-time and part-time employees. Data does not include military personnel, postal workers, or intelligence agency staff. Last updated: 2026-03-10.
Related
Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGovJobs Editorial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from OPM FedScope. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
