PlainGovJobs

Federal Employment in CALIFORNIA

Federal workforce data for CALIFORNIA. This state accounts for 8.0% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in CALIFORNIA

CALIFORNIA is home to 182,276 federal civilian employees, which is 8.0% 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 -1.4%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 44 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in CALIFORNIA averages $115,994 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 5.6% above 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 11.6 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in CALIFORNIA is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 38,505 employees at an average salary of $135,913. The highest-paying agency in the state is SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION at $243,832 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to CALIFORNIA, 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

182,276

-1.4% from prior period

Average Salary

$115,994

+3.3%

Avg Length of Service

11.6 yrs

Agencies Present

44

Salary Context

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

State Average

$115,994

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

+5.6%

Federal Agencies in CALIFORNIA

44 federal agencies operate in CALIFORNIA. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 38,505 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 38,505 $135,913
2 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 36,131 $114,803
3 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 24,698 $107,585
4 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 9,851 $96,519
5 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 9,481 $109,382
6 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9,126 $116,460
7 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 8,604 $105,848
8 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 8,440 $99,031
9 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 8,344 $80,419
10 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 6,047 $97,868
11 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 5,600 $104,291
12 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 3,892 $152,704
13 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 2,333 $127,974
14 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 2,088 $109,652
15 NAT AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 1,806 $164,277
16 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 958 $140,156
17 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 845 $130,602
18 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 843 $99,242
19 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 792 $134,810
20 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 520 $157,571
21 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 502 $145,489
22 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 407 $188,215
23 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 326 $243,832
24 PRESIDIO TRUST 318 $128,364
25 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 270 $115,997
26 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 141 $128,247
27 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 121 $150,189
28 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 116 $143,301
29 NAT ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION 102 $102,976
30 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 91 $208,337
31 NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 69 $113,469
32 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 56 $174,889
33 OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 51 $140,805
34 CORP FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE 51 $97,921
35 U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEV 48 $141,762
36 RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD 25 $109,140
37 PEACE CORPS 25 $116,191
38 CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 20 $137,471
39 FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION 17 $138,896
40 DFC 14 $161,860
41 MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD 14 $171,153
42 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 13 $170,740
43 FED MEDIATION AND CONCILIATION SERVICE 13 $149,637
44 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 12 $202,026

Related Federal Data

Explore 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 in CALIFORNIA.

PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 CALIFORNIA.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to CALIFORNIA

TEXAS

171,064 employees $102,154 avg

VIRGINIA

167,789 employees $124,988 avg

MARYLAND

149,707 employees $138,453 avg

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

141,613 employees $150,626 avg

FLORIDA

117,353 employees $102,985 avg

GEORGIA

90,219 employees $100,945 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 CALIFORNIA? ▾
CALIFORNIA has 182,276 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 8.0% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in CALIFORNIA? ▾
The average federal salary in CALIFORNIA is $115,994 per year, which is 5.6% above the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in CALIFORNIA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in CALIFORNIA with 38,505 employees and an average salary of $135,913.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in CALIFORNIA? ▾
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in CALIFORNIA at $243,832 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in CALIFORNIA? ▾
44 federal agencies have employees in CALIFORNIA. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 38,505 employees.
How does federal employment in CALIFORNIA compare to other states? ▾
CALIFORNIA ranks among the top states for federal employment, with 8.0% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11.6 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.

Related

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