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Federal Employment in MISSISSIPPI

Federal workforce data for MISSISSIPPI. 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 MISSISSIPPI

MISSISSIPPI is home to 20,904 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 -1.4%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 25 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in MISSISSIPPI averages $91,486 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 16.7% 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 11.2 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in MISSISSIPPI is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 5,074 employees at an average salary of $95,084. The highest-paying agency in the state is FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION at $131,206 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to MISSISSIPPI, 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

20,904

-1.4% from prior period

Average Salary

$91,486

+2.6%

Avg Length of Service

11.2 yrs

Agencies Present

25

Salary Context

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

State Average

$91,486

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-16.7%

Federal Agencies in MISSISSIPPI

25 federal agencies operate in MISSISSIPPI. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 5,074 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 5,074 $95,084
2 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 3,949 $93,002
3 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 2,662 $92,771
4 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 2,119 $82,473
5 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,537 $79,581
6 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 1,174 $89,162
7 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 815 $87,271
8 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 520 $93,995
9 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 503 $72,323
10 NAT AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 438 $130,226
11 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 343 $78,807
12 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 332 $89,389
13 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 269 $86,439
14 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 178 $110,105
15 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 144 $99,670
16 ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME 136 $73,236
17 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 69 $76,694
18 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 53 $96,744
19 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 51 $131,206
20 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 33 $102,489
21 CORP FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE 25 $83,225
22 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 21 $97,226
23 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 21 $119,347
24 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 17 $105,697
25 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 12 $116,572

Related Federal Data

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WageDex — Salary 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 MISSISSIPPI.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to MISSISSIPPI

MINNESOTA

21,114 employees $105,911 avg

OREGON

21,483 employees $102,137 avg

WEST VIRGINIA

22,450 employees $100,190 avg

WISCONSIN

19,227 employees $99,600 avg

LOUISIANA

22,772 employees $96,153 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 MISSISSIPPI? ▾
MISSISSIPPI has 20,904 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 MISSISSIPPI? ▾
The average federal salary in MISSISSIPPI is $91,486 per year, which is 16.7% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in MISSISSIPPI? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in MISSISSIPPI with 5,074 employees and an average salary of $95,084.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in MISSISSIPPI? ▾
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in MISSISSIPPI at $131,206 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in MISSISSIPPI? ▾
25 federal agencies have employees in MISSISSIPPI. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 5,074 employees.
How does federal employment in MISSISSIPPI compare to other states? ▾
MISSISSIPPI ranks among the lower-ranking states for federal employment, with 0.9% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11.2 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