Records analyzed
4 sub-agencies
Cross-joined with state geography and occupational mix
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Open-data reference.
Federal workforce data for SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. This agency represents 0.2% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.
What the Numbers Say About SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION employs 4,453 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 -1.2%, 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 $135,267 sits 23.1% above the federal civilian average of $109,869. Average length of service at SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION is 14.4 years, reflecting a workforce that has built institutional knowledge across 4 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: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION has employees in 6 states and territories, with the largest concentration in DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (3,579 employees at $142,929 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 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION is expanding, contracting, or simply replacing departures. All figures draw directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes and update quarterly.
Workforce Overview
Employees
4,453
-1.2% from prior period
Average Salary
$135,267
+32.6%
Avg Length of Service
14.4 yrs
Sub-agencies
4
Data vintage
March 2025
OPM FedScope quarterly snapshot
Source authority
OPM FedScope
U.S. Office of Personnel Management — official federal HR data
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION pay vs. federal civilian average
Agency average $135,267 relative to federal average $109,869
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION workforce by GS grade tier
Estimated distribution of 4,453 employees across the General Schedule pay grades. Tier weights are modeled from the agency's average salary of $135,267, average length of service of 14.4 years, and sub-agency salary brackets. Color encodes pay-band tier (entry / mid / senior / executive).
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION — estimated GS-grade workforce mix. Source: OPM FedScope March 2025; pay tiers modeled from agency averages.
Salary Analysis
How SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION pay compares to the federal average of $109,869
Agency Average
$135,267
Federal Average
$109,869
vs. Federal Avg
+23.1%
Salary Range by Sub-agency
Under $80K
0
$80K–$100K
0
$100K–$120K
762
$120K–$150K
3,691
Over $150K
0
Sub-agencies & Organizational Units
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION has 4 sub-agencies. The highest-paying unit averages $142,011.
| Sub-agency | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (EXCEPT UNITS ADMINISTERED UNDER SEPARATE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES) | 3,647 | $141,323 | 14.5 yrs |
| NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART | 709 | $105,318 | 14.2 yrs |
| JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | 53 | $113,585 | 12.6 yrs |
| WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS | 44 | $142,011 | 12.6 yrs |
Geographic Presence
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION has employees in 6 states and territories. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA has the most with 3,579 employees.
| State | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | 3,579 | $142,929 | 14.3 yrs |
| MARYLAND | 391 | $93,324 | 15.4 yrs |
| VIRGINIA | 212 | $113,105 | 13.4 yrs |
| NEW YORK | 141 | $85,193 | 14.5 yrs |
| MASSACHUSETTS | 52 | $186,141 | 22.3 yrs |
| HAWAII | 17 | $89,598 | 11.3 yrs |
Workforce Dynamics
Monthly hiring and separation trends. Net change over 12 months: 0.
| Month | Accessions | Separations | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | +0 | -11 | -11 |
| Feb 2025 | +13 | -0 | +13 |
| Jan 2025 | +36 | -28 | +8 |
| Dec 2024 | +34 | -38 | -4 |
| Nov 2024 | +23 | -12 | +11 |
| Oct 2024 | +29 | -11 | +18 |
| Sep 2024 | +23 | -0 | +23 |
| Aug 2024 | +28 | -11 | +17 |
| Jul 2024 | +52 | -16 | +36 |
| Jun 2024 | +44 | -0 | +44 |
| May 2024 | +32 | -0 | +32 |
| Apr 2024 | +19 | -0 | +19 |
Hiring & Separation Reasons
Why employees join and leave SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Accession Reasons
New Hire - Competitive Service Appointment
333
Separation Reasons
Retirement - Voluntary
89
Termination (Expired Appt/Other)
16
Transfer Out - Individual Transfer
11
Quit
11
Employee Tenure Distribution
Average length of service is 14.4 years. Employees in sub-agencies grouped by average tenure.
Under 5 yrs
0
5–10 yrs
0
10–15 yrs
4,453
15–20 yrs
0
Over 20 yrs
0
Related Federal Data
Explore related salary, cost-of-living, and workforce data from other federal sources
WageDex — Salary Data
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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 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 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
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4,052 employees $145,334 avg
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2,941 employees $157,299 avg
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2,810 employees $93,615 avg
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people work at SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION? ▾
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION employs 4,453 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 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION? ▾
The average salary at SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION is $135,267 per year, which is 23.1% above the federal average of $109,869.
What is the average length of service at SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION? ▾
The average length of service at SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION is 14.4 years. The federal average is 11.8 years.
How many sub-agencies does SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION have? ▾
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION has 4 sub-agencies or organizational units. The largest is SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION (EXCEPT UNITS ADMINISTERED UNDER SEPARATE BOARDS OF TRUSTEES) with 3,647 employees.
In how many states does SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION have employees? ▾
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION has employees in 6 states and territories. The largest concentration is in DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA with 3,579 employees.
Is SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION hiring or downsizing? ▾
Over the most recent 12 months of data, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION had 0 accessions and 0 separations, for a net change of 0 employees.
Where can I find salary data for occupations at SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION? ▾
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.
