Records analyzed
1 sub-agencies
Cross-joined with state geography and occupational mix
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Open-data reference.
Federal workforce data for NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. This agency represents 0.1% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.
What the Numbers Say About NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION employs 1,601 federal civilian workers, which accounts for 0.1% 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 -6.8%, 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 $162,683 sits 48.1% above the federal civilian average of $109,869. Average length of service at NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION is 13.6 years, reflecting a workforce that has built institutional knowledge across 1 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: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION has employees in 7 states and territories, with the largest concentration in VIRGINIA (1,375 employees at $163,865 avg salary). Over the most recent 11 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 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION is expanding, contracting, or simply replacing departures. All figures draw directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes and update quarterly.
Workforce Overview
Employees
1,601
-6.8% from prior period
Average Salary
$162,683
+2.6%
Avg Length of Service
13.6 yrs
Sub-agencies
1
Data vintage
March 2025
OPM FedScope quarterly snapshot
Source authority
OPM FedScope
U.S. Office of Personnel Management — official federal HR data
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION pay vs. federal civilian average
Agency average $162,683 relative to federal average $109,869
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION workforce by GS grade tier
Estimated distribution of 1,601 employees across the General Schedule pay grades. Tier weights are modeled from the agency's average salary of $162,683, average length of service of 13.6 years, and sub-agency salary brackets. Color encodes pay-band tier (entry / mid / senior / executive).
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION — estimated GS-grade workforce mix. Source: OPM FedScope March 2025; pay tiers modeled from agency averages.
Salary Analysis
How NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION pay compares to the federal average of $109,869
Agency Average
$162,683
Federal Average
$109,869
vs. Federal Avg
+48.1%
Salary Range by Sub-agency
Under $80K
0
$80K–$100K
0
$100K–$120K
0
$120K–$150K
0
Over $150K
1,601
Sub-agencies & Organizational Units
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION has 1 sub-agencies. The highest-paying unit averages $162,683.
| Sub-agency | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION | 1,601 | $162,683 | 13.6 yrs |
Geographic Presence
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION has employees in 7 states and territories. VIRGINIA has the most with 1,375 employees.
| State | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIRGINIA | 1,375 | $163,865 | 13.5 yrs |
| MARYLAND | 68 | $148,941 | 19.7 yrs |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | 16 | $141,249 | 13.7 yrs |
| COLORADO | 12 | $163,730 | 15.2 yrs |
| CALIFORNIA | 12 | $202,026 | 3.9 yrs |
| TEXAS | 11 | $121,644 | 9.9 yrs |
| NEW YORK | 11 | $154,335 | 7.5 yrs |
Workforce Dynamics
Monthly hiring and separation trends. Net change over 11 months: 0.
| Month | Accessions | Separations | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | +0 | -11 | -11 |
| Feb 2025 | +0 | -87 | -87 |
| Jan 2025 | +19 | -14 | +5 |
| Dec 2024 | +15 | -11 | +4 |
| Nov 2024 | +15 | -0 | +15 |
| Oct 2024 | +0 | -12 | -12 |
| Sep 2024 | +13 | -0 | +13 |
| Aug 2024 | +30 | -0 | +30 |
| Jul 2024 | +15 | -0 | +15 |
| Jun 2024 | +31 | -0 | +31 |
| May 2024 | +18 | -0 | +18 |
Hiring & Separation Reasons
Why employees join and leave NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Accession Reasons
New Hire - Excepted Service Appointment
156
Separation Reasons
Termination (Expired Appt/Other)
113
Retirement - Voluntary
22
Related Federal Data
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PlainWorker — Worker Protections
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PlainPension — Pension Data
Federal and private pension plan data. Explore retirement benefits for NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 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 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1,649 employees $112,001 avg
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
1,661 employees $196,702 avg
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
1,473 employees $169,866 avg
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
1,244 employees $169,128 avg
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
1,237 employees $143,597 avg
NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION
1,214 employees $138,970 avg
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work at NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION? ▾
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION employs 1,601 federal workers as of March 2025. This represents 0.1% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average salary at NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION? ▾
The average salary at NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION is $162,683 per year, which is 48.1% above the federal average of $109,869.
What is the average length of service at NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION? ▾
The average length of service at NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION is 13.6 years. The federal average is 11.8 years.
How many sub-agencies does NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION have? ▾
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION has 1 sub-agencies or organizational units. The largest is NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION with 1,601 employees.
In how many states does NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION have employees? ▾
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION has employees in 7 states and territories. The largest concentration is in VIRGINIA with 1,375 employees.
Is NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION hiring or downsizing? ▾
Over the most recent 11 months of data, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION had 0 accessions and 0 separations, for a net change of 0 employees.
Where can I find salary data for occupations at NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION? ▾
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.
