Federal Employment in NEBRASKA
Federal workforce data for NEBRASKA. 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 NEBRASKA
NEBRASKA is home to 12,386 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 -1.1%, 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 NEBRASKA averages $97,036 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 11.7% 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 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.
The largest federal employer in NEBRASKA is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 3,320 employees at an average salary of $103,340. The highest-paying agency in the state is DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY at $144,290 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to NEBRASKA, 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
12,386
-1.1% from prior period
Average Salary
$97,036
+2.9%
Avg Length of Service
11 yrs
Agencies Present
19
Salary Context
How federal pay in NEBRASKA compares to the national average of $109,869
State Average
$97,036
National Average
$109,869
vs. National Avg
-11.7%
Federal Agencies in NEBRASKA
19 federal agencies operate in NEBRASKA. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 3,320 employees.
| # | Agency | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS | 3,320 | $103,340 | 9.3 yrs |
| 2 | DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE | 2,423 | $100,331 | 10.7 yrs |
| 3 | DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | 1,887 | $86,298 | 10.6 yrs |
| 4 | DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY | 1,383 | $96,703 | 11.2 yrs |
| 5 | DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE | 1,332 | $82,089 | 12.8 yrs |
| 6 | DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR | 356 | $93,065 | 15 yrs |
| 7 | DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE | 336 | $107,684 | 11.4 yrs |
| 8 | DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | 207 | $83,096 | 10.3 yrs |
| 9 | DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION | 178 | $112,924 | 12.9 yrs |
| 10 | DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY | 151 | $109,234 | 13.1 yrs |
| 11 | SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION | 150 | $95,561 | 16.3 yrs |
| 12 | DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE | 124 | $84,378 | 11 yrs |
| 13 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES | 60 | $88,900 | 12.3 yrs |
| 14 | FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION | 49 | $137,656 | 14.6 yrs |
| 15 | DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY | 23 | $144,290 | 10 yrs |
| 16 | GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION | 21 | $108,852 | 15.3 yrs |
| 17 | SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION | 16 | $107,482 | 8.9 yrs |
| 18 | DEPARTMENT OF LABOR | 16 | $107,627 | 12.8 yrs |
| 19 | DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY | 12 | $141,087 | 13.4 yrs |
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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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