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Federal Employment in ARKANSAS

Federal workforce data for ARKANSAS. This state accounts for 0.7% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in ARKANSAS

ARKANSAS is home to 15,381 federal civilian employees, which is 0.7% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472 recorded in OPM FedScope for March 2025. Versus the prior reporting period, the state's federal headcount moved down by -1.5%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 22 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in ARKANSAS averages $94,988 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 13.5% below the national federal civilian average of $109,869. The gap reflects locality-pay tables, the mix of headquarters versus field-office roles, and the occupational profile of agencies that concentrate here. Average length of service is 11.2 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in ARKANSAS is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 6,820 employees at an average salary of $104,420. The highest-paying agency in the state is FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION at $133,338 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to ARKANSAS, these agency-level concentrations matter because they determine which career ladders, locality-pay tables, and mission areas dominate local federal employment. All figures come directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes, updated quarterly.

Federal Employees

15,381

-1.5% from prior period

Average Salary

$94,988

+3.2%

Avg Length of Service

11.2 yrs

Agencies Present

22

Salary Context

How federal pay in ARKANSAS compares to the national average of $109,869

State Average

$94,988

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-13.5%

Federal Agencies in ARKANSAS

22 federal agencies operate in ARKANSAS. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 6,820 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 6,820 $104,420
2 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 2,167 $83,337
3 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,644 $76,181
4 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 936 $79,192
5 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 925 $93,247
6 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 468 $121,855
7 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 420 $81,778
8 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 410 $92,624
9 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 314 $75,222
10 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 190 $106,536
11 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 183 $114,117
12 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 167 $71,741
13 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 103 $63,094
14 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 64 $123,932
15 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 60 $92,945
16 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 38 $93,342
17 NAT ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION 32 $94,306
18 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 31 $105,957
19 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 30 $133,338
20 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 22 $104,314
21 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 22 $103,541
22 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 18 $112,030

Related Federal Data

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WageDex — Salary Data

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PlainWorker — Worker Protections

OSHA inspection data and workplace safety records. See enforcement activity in ARKANSAS.

PlainPension — Pension Data

Federal and private pension plan data. Explore retirement benefits for government employees.

PlainCost — Cost of Living

BEA Regional Price Parities for 387 metros. See how far your federal salary goes in ARKANSAS.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to ARKANSAS

MAINE

14,164 employees $96,541 avg

NEVADA

16,744 employees $99,250 avg

NEBRASKA

12,386 employees $97,036 avg

ALASKA

12,381 employees $103,521 avg

KANSAS

18,747 employees $96,116 avg

WISCONSIN

19,227 employees $99,600 avg

Federal Employment Guides

Learn more about working for the federal government

How to Get a Government Job

Step-by-step guide to finding and applying for federal positions.

GS Pay Scale Explained

Understanding the General Schedule pay system and locality adjustments.

Highest-Paying Federal Jobs

Top federal occupations and agencies ranked by average salary.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many federal employees work in ARKANSAS? ▾
ARKANSAS has 15,381 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 0.7% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in ARKANSAS? ▾
The average federal salary in ARKANSAS is $94,988 per year, which is 13.5% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in ARKANSAS? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in ARKANSAS with 6,820 employees and an average salary of $104,420.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in ARKANSAS? ▾
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in ARKANSAS at $133,338 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in ARKANSAS? ▾
22 federal agencies have employees in ARKANSAS. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 6,820 employees.
How does federal employment in ARKANSAS compare to other states? ▾
ARKANSAS ranks among the lower-ranking states for federal employment, with 0.7% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11.2 years.

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.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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Data sourced from official U.S. government datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainGovJobs Editorial