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Federal Employment in MICHIGAN

Federal workforce data for MICHIGAN. This state accounts for 1.6% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN is home to 35,962 federal civilian employees, which is 1.6% 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 -0.6%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 28 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in MICHIGAN averages $109,574 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 0.3% 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 11.4 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in MICHIGAN is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 12,378 employees at an average salary of $106,894. The highest-paying agency in the state is FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION at $166,425 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to MICHIGAN, 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

35,962

-0.6% from prior period

Average Salary

$109,574

+3.0%

Avg Length of Service

11.4 yrs

Agencies Present

28

Salary Context

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

State Average

$109,574

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-0.3%

Federal Agencies in MICHIGAN

28 federal agencies operate in MICHIGAN. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 12,378 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 12,378 $106,894
2 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 7,384 $121,720
3 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 4,395 $101,837
4 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 1,625 $117,932
5 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 1,541 $111,085
6 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 1,484 $102,051
7 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,349 $82,011
8 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 1,199 $101,582
9 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 733 $131,415
10 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 656 $90,888
11 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 647 $110,023
12 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 561 $85,257
13 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 448 $120,547
14 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 333 $134,498
15 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 125 $128,650
16 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 122 $118,854
17 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 102 $105,234
18 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 71 $88,346
19 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 53 $106,981
20 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 40 $99,665
21 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 37 $166,425
22 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 37 $135,071
23 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 37 $111,792
24 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 34 $137,277
25 NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 32 $116,624
26 NAT ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION 28 $94,443
27 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 12 $161,937
28 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 12 $133,019

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 MICHIGAN.

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 MICHIGAN.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to MICHIGAN

TENNESSEE

35,647 employees $93,701 avg

UTAH

35,410 employees $89,025 avg

MISSOURI

40,913 employees $93,101 avg

MASSACHUSETTS

29,918 employees $115,743 avg

NEW JERSEY

29,311 employees $121,168 avg

HAWAII

27,836 employees $101,199 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 MICHIGAN? ▾
MICHIGAN has 35,962 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 1.6% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in MICHIGAN? ▾
The average federal salary in MICHIGAN is $109,574 per year, which is 0.3% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in MICHIGAN? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in MICHIGAN with 12,378 employees and an average salary of $106,894.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in MICHIGAN? ▾
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in MICHIGAN at $166,425 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in MICHIGAN? ▾
28 federal agencies have employees in MICHIGAN. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 12,378 employees.
How does federal employment in MICHIGAN compare to other states? ▾
MICHIGAN ranks among the mid-range states for federal employment, with 1.6% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11.4 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