Records analyzed
18 sub-agencies
Cross-joined with state geography and occupational mix
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Open-data reference.
Federal workforce data for DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. This agency represents 0.2% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.
What the Numbers Say About DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION employs 4,052 federal civilian workers, which accounts for 0.2% 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 -3.7%, 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 $145,334 sits 32.3% above the federal civilian average of $109,869. Average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION is 15.1 years, reflecting a workforce that has built institutional knowledge across 18 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 EDUCATION has employees in 18 states and territories, with the largest concentration in DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (1,814 employees at $151,463 avg salary). Over the most recent 4 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 EDUCATION is expanding, contracting, or simply replacing departures. All figures draw directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes and update quarterly.
Workforce Overview
Employees
4,052
-3.7% from prior period
Average Salary
$145,334
+0.0%
Avg Length of Service
15.1 yrs
Sub-agencies
18
Data vintage
March 2025
OPM FedScope quarterly snapshot
Source authority
OPM FedScope
U.S. Office of Personnel Management — official federal HR data
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION pay vs. federal civilian average
Agency average $145,334 relative to federal average $109,869
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION workforce by GS grade tier
Estimated distribution of 4,052 employees across the General Schedule pay grades. Tier weights are modeled from the agency's average salary of $145,334, average length of service of 15.1 years, and sub-agency salary brackets. Color encodes pay-band tier (entry / mid / senior / executive).
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — estimated GS-grade workforce mix. Source: OPM FedScope March 2025; pay tiers modeled from agency averages.
Salary Analysis
How DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION pay compares to the federal average of $109,869
Agency Average
$145,334
Federal Average
$109,869
vs. Federal Avg
+32.3%
Salary Range by Sub-agency
Under $80K
35
$80K–$100K
0
$100K–$120K
0
$120K–$150K
3,044
Over $150K
973
Sub-agencies & Organizational Units
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION has 18 sub-agencies. The highest-paying unit averages $168,348.
| Sub-agency | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEDERAL STUDENT AID | 1,413 | $148,889 | 15.2 yrs |
| OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS | 581 | $138,456 | 13 yrs |
| OFFICE OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS | 408 | $144,312 | 17 yrs |
| OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION | 293 | $133,197 | 13.5 yrs |
| OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL | 190 | $152,481 | 19.6 yrs |
| INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES | 185 | $152,820 | 13.2 yrs |
| OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES | 174 | $152,287 | 15.1 yrs |
| OFFICE OF POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION | 171 | $125,084 | 15.9 yrs |
| OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL | 118 | $162,983 | 14.8 yrs |
| OFFICE OF PLANNING, EVALUATION AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT | 113 | $156,933 | 15.9 yrs |
| OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER | 91 | $168,348 | 17.1 yrs |
| OFFICE OF THE DUTY SECRETARY OF EDUCATION | 79 | $133,900 | 14.7 yrs |
| OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH | 67 | $144,621 | 19.1 yrs |
| OFFICE OF CAREER, TECHNICAL, AND ADULT EDUCATION | 54 | $157,390 | 18.6 yrs |
| IMMEDIATE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION | 48 | $150,041 | 13.9 yrs |
| NATIONAL ASSESSMENT GOVERNING BOARD | 35 | $71,040 | 6.7 yrs |
| OFFICE OF LEGISLATION AND CONGRESSIONAL AFFAIRS | 17 | $136,702 | 8.6 yrs |
| OFFICE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION | 15 | $131,350 | 13.7 yrs |
Geographic Presence
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION has employees in 18 states and territories. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA has the most with 1,814 employees.
| State | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | 1,814 | $151,463 | 16.1 yrs |
| MARYLAND | 356 | $151,053 | 18.2 yrs |
| VIRGINIA | 203 | $153,250 | 14.3 yrs |
| GEORGIA | 161 | $135,413 | 14.6 yrs |
| TEXAS | 154 | $134,156 | 13.4 yrs |
| ILLINOIS | 130 | $138,506 | 16.8 yrs |
| CALIFORNIA | 121 | $150,189 | 16.5 yrs |
| PENNSYLVANIA | 94 | $138,506 | 13.9 yrs |
| NEW YORK | 86 | $142,554 | 13.7 yrs |
| COLORADO | 63 | $137,527 | 14.1 yrs |
| MASSACHUSETTS | 55 | $140,369 | 11.7 yrs |
| FLORIDA | 41 | $150,449 | 11.1 yrs |
| WASHINGTON | 41 | $140,192 | 14.9 yrs |
| MISSOURI | 40 | $126,558 | 13.3 yrs |
| OHIO | 37 | $137,887 | 12.4 yrs |
| NEW JERSEY | 32 | $142,601 | 12.8 yrs |
| NORTH CAROLINA | 18 | $128,968 | 9.9 yrs |
| KANSAS | 12 | $118,480 | 11.9 yrs |
Workforce Dynamics
Monthly hiring and separation trends. Net change over 4 months: 0.
| Month | Accessions | Separations | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | +0 | -190 | -190 |
| Jan 2025 | +16 | -67 | -51 |
| Dec 2024 | +0 | -14 | -14 |
| Sep 2024 | +39 | -0 | +39 |
Hiring & Separation Reasons
Why employees join and leave DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Accession Reasons
New Hire - Excepted Service Appointment
55
Separation Reasons
Retirement - Voluntary
104
Retirement - Early Out
85
Quit
82
Employee Tenure Distribution
Average length of service is 15.1 years. Employees in sub-agencies grouped by average tenure.
Under 5 yrs
0
5–10 yrs
52
10–15 yrs
1,319
15–20 yrs
2,681
Over 20 yrs
0
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 EDUCATION 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 EDUCATION
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
4,453 employees $135,267 avg
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
4,744 employees $230,991 avg
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEV
4,922 employees $152,896 avg
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
2,941 employees $157,299 avg
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
2,941 employees $121,220 avg
NAT ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
2,810 employees $93,615 avg
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work at DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION employs 4,052 federal workers as of March 2025. This represents 0.2% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average salary at DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? ▾
The average salary at DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION is $145,334 per year, which is 32.3% above the federal average of $109,869.
What is the average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? ▾
The average length of service at DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION is 15.1 years. The federal average is 11.8 years.
How many sub-agencies does DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION have? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION has 18 sub-agencies or organizational units. The largest is FEDERAL STUDENT AID with 1,413 employees.
In how many states does DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION have employees? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION has employees in 18 states and territories. The largest concentration is in DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA with 1,814 employees.
Is DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION hiring or downsizing? ▾
Over the most recent 4 months of data, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION had 0 accessions and 0 separations, for a net change of 0 employees.
Where can I find salary data for occupations at DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION? ▾
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.
