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Federal Employment in IOWA

Federal workforce data for IOWA. This state accounts for 0.5% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in IOWA

IOWA is home to 10,513 federal civilian employees, which is 0.5% 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 -1.9%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 20 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in IOWA averages $97,054 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 11.7% 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 10.5 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in IOWA is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 4,688 employees at an average salary of $108,116. The highest-paying agency in the state is FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION at $139,219 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to IOWA, 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

10,513

-1.9% from prior period

Average Salary

$97,054

+2.8%

Avg Length of Service

10.5 yrs

Agencies Present

20

Salary Context

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

State Average

$97,054

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-11.7%

Federal Agencies in IOWA

20 federal agencies operate in IOWA. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 4,688 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 4,688 $108,116
2 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 2,011 $82,240
3 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 1,177 $80,079
4 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 418 $73,346
5 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 293 $83,494
6 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 265 $112,522
7 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 236 $93,279
8 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 234 $88,409
9 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 231 $107,444
10 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 167 $85,736
11 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 119 $80,306
12 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 97 $139,219
13 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 79 $102,189
14 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 62 $100,789
15 CORP FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE 23 $93,441
16 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 22 $127,055
17 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 18 $105,704
18 NAT ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION 15 $88,282
19 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 14 $96,340
20 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 13 $96,420

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 government employees.

PlainCost — Cost of Living

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

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to IOWA

IDAHO

11,094 employees $91,228 avg

MONTANA

11,350 employees $91,837 avg

SOUTH DAKOTA

9,174 employees $89,016 avg

RHODE ISLAND

9,077 employees $116,293 avg

ALASKA

12,381 employees $103,521 avg

NEBRASKA

12,386 employees $97,036 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 IOWA? ▾
IOWA has 10,513 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 0.5% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in IOWA? ▾
The average federal salary in IOWA is $97,054 per year, which is 11.7% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in IOWA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in IOWA with 4,688 employees and an average salary of $108,116.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in IOWA? ▾
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in IOWA at $139,219 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in IOWA? ▾
20 federal agencies have employees in IOWA. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 4,688 employees.
How does federal employment in IOWA compare to other states? ▾
IOWA ranks among the lower-ranking states for federal employment, with 0.5% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 10.5 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