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Federal Employment in MONTANA

Federal workforce data for MONTANA. 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 MONTANA

MONTANA is home to 11,350 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 -9.5%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 19 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in MONTANA averages $91,837 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 16.4% 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 11.7 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in MONTANA is DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE with 2,938 employees at an average salary of $78,915. The highest-paying agency in the state is FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION at $128,419 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to MONTANA, 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

11,350

-9.5% from prior period

Average Salary

$91,837

+7.7%

Avg Length of Service

11.7 yrs

Agencies Present

19

Salary Context

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

State Average

$91,837

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-16.4%

Federal Agencies in MONTANA

19 federal agencies operate in MONTANA. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE is the largest with 2,938 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 2,938 $78,915
2 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 1,983 $106,062
3 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 1,898 $87,393
4 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 1,155 $95,535
5 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 780 $92,123
6 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 712 $84,171
7 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 518 $90,124
8 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 220 $109,185
9 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 213 $111,192
10 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 154 $125,508
11 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 146 $88,213
12 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 101 $94,345
13 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 64 $100,119
14 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 63 $61,313
15 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 47 $110,201
16 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 27 $128,419
17 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 15 $107,418
18 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 12 $85,334
19 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 11 $109,156

Related Federal Data

Explore salary, cost-of-living, and workforce data from other federal sources

WageDex — Salary Data

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PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 MONTANA.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to MONTANA

IDAHO

11,094 employees $91,228 avg

IOWA

10,513 employees $97,054 avg

ALASKA

12,381 employees $103,521 avg

NEBRASKA

12,386 employees $97,036 avg

SOUTH DAKOTA

9,174 employees $89,016 avg

RHODE ISLAND

9,077 employees $116,293 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 MONTANA? ▾
MONTANA has 11,350 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 MONTANA? ▾
The average federal salary in MONTANA is $91,837 per year, which is 16.4% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in MONTANA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE is the largest federal employer in MONTANA with 2,938 employees and an average salary of $78,915.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in MONTANA? ▾
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in MONTANA at $128,419 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in MONTANA? ▾
19 federal agencies have employees in MONTANA. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE with 2,938 employees.
How does federal employment in MONTANA compare to other states? ▾
MONTANA ranks among the lower-ranking states for federal employment, with 0.5% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11.7 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