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Federal Employment in MINNESOTA

Federal workforce data for MINNESOTA. This state accounts for 0.9% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in MINNESOTA

MINNESOTA is home to 21,114 federal civilian employees, which is 0.9% 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 -1.2%, 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 MINNESOTA averages $105,911 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 3.6% 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 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in MINNESOTA is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 8,538 employees at an average salary of $109,458. The highest-paying agency in the state is FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM at $184,656 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to MINNESOTA, 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

21,114

-1.2% from prior period

Average Salary

$105,911

+2.7%

Avg Length of Service

11 yrs

Agencies Present

28

Salary Context

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

State Average

$105,911

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-3.6%

Federal Agencies in MINNESOTA

28 federal agencies operate in MINNESOTA. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 8,538 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 8,538 $109,458
2 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 2,144 $95,428
3 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,836 $86,658
4 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 1,622 $89,097
5 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 1,546 $104,715
6 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 945 $151,042
7 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 818 $101,957
8 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 713 $102,925
9 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 654 $87,680
10 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 553 $132,059
11 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 390 $98,589
12 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 254 $93,175
13 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 134 $115,088
14 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 88 $118,953
15 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 80 $129,323
16 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 67 $153,084
17 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 62 $99,967
18 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 60 $129,651
19 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 45 $97,554
20 FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION 39 $133,085
21 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 22 $97,270
22 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 20 $132,504
23 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 17 $139,691
24 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 16 $122,678
25 NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 13 $118,705
26 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 13 $184,656
27 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 12 $66,062
28 OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 11 $136,409

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 MINNESOTA.

PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 MINNESOTA.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to MINNESOTA

MISSISSIPPI

20,904 employees $91,486 avg

OREGON

21,483 employees $102,137 avg

WEST VIRGINIA

22,450 employees $100,190 avg

LOUISIANA

22,772 employees $96,153 avg

WISCONSIN

19,227 employees $99,600 avg

KANSAS

18,747 employees $96,116 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 MINNESOTA? ▾
MINNESOTA has 21,114 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 0.9% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in MINNESOTA? ▾
The average federal salary in MINNESOTA is $105,911 per year, which is 3.6% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in MINNESOTA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in MINNESOTA with 8,538 employees and an average salary of $109,458.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in MINNESOTA? ▾
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM has the highest average salary among federal agencies in MINNESOTA at $184,656 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in MINNESOTA? ▾
28 federal agencies have employees in MINNESOTA. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 8,538 employees.
How does federal employment in MINNESOTA compare to other states? ▾
MINNESOTA ranks among the lower-ranking states for federal employment, with 0.9% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11 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