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Federal Employment in KENTUCKY

Federal workforce data for KENTUCKY. This state accounts for 1.2% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in KENTUCKY

KENTUCKY is home to 26,542 federal civilian employees, which is 1.2% 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 -0.2%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 23 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in KENTUCKY averages $90,123 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 18.0% 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 11.3 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in KENTUCKY is DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY with 7,430 employees at an average salary of $85,565. The highest-paying agency in the state is DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY at $135,904 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to KENTUCKY, 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

26,542

-0.2% from prior period

Average Salary

$90,123

+2.6%

Avg Length of Service

11.3 yrs

Agencies Present

23

Salary Context

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

State Average

$90,123

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-18.0%

Federal Agencies in KENTUCKY

23 federal agencies operate in KENTUCKY. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY is the largest with 7,430 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 7,430 $85,565
2 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 6,104 $107,066
3 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 3,552 $73,391
4 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 2,500 $88,155
5 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 1,733 $79,855
6 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,156 $78,394
7 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 1,141 $83,308
8 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 704 $91,843
9 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 373 $123,502
10 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 340 $75,388
11 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 285 $105,549
12 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 224 $74,690
13 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 181 $98,920
14 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 111 $106,413
15 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 80 $135,904
16 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 74 $131,980
17 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 29 $105,583
18 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 27 $120,917
19 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 26 $98,044
20 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 26 $124,981
21 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 22 $126,161
22 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 15 $114,716
23 NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 11 $128,385

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 KENTUCKY.

PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 KENTUCKY.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to KENTUCKY

INDIANA

26,912 employees $98,539 avg

SOUTH CAROLINA

27,608 employees $98,606 avg

NEW MEXICO

25,401 employees $97,618 avg

HAWAII

27,836 employees $101,199 avg

NEW JERSEY

29,311 employees $121,168 avg

MASSACHUSETTS

29,918 employees $115,743 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 KENTUCKY? ▾
KENTUCKY has 26,542 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 1.2% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in KENTUCKY? ▾
The average federal salary in KENTUCKY is $90,123 per year, which is 18.0% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in KENTUCKY? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY is the largest federal employer in KENTUCKY with 7,430 employees and an average salary of $85,565.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in KENTUCKY? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY has the highest average salary among federal agencies in KENTUCKY at $135,904 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in KENTUCKY? ▾
23 federal agencies have employees in KENTUCKY. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY with 7,430 employees.
How does federal employment in KENTUCKY compare to other states? ▾
KENTUCKY ranks among the mid-range states for federal employment, with 1.2% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11.3 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