International Relations

What the Numbers Say About International Relations

As of the March 2025 reporting window, 461 people work in the International Relations occupation (OPM code 131) across federal agencies, 0.0% of the 2,289,472-strong federal civilian workforce. Headcount moved up by 2.4% from the prior period, though at this small a headcount, year-to-year swings can reflect a handful of hires or departures rather than a broad hiring trend.

The average salary for International Relations is $138,513 per year, placing it 26.1% above the overall federal civilian average of $109,869. Salaries moved down by -4.2% from the prior period, a broad shift as locality pay tables and grade-level adjustments moved through the workforce. Average length of service in this role is 11.1 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.

The Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare Group family (code 1) groups International Relations together with 27 other related occupations across the federal government. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for International Relations postings should also review these sibling occupations, since federal hiring managers often cross-post positions across closely related codes when recruitment is difficult. All figures here come directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes, the same official source referenced in federal workforce planning, budget justifications, and GAO reports.

Inside the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare Group family (28 occupations, 113,996 employees combined), International Relations holds the #16 spot by headcount, a 0.4% share of the family total.