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Federal Employment in NORTH DAKOTA

Federal workforce data for NORTH DAKOTA. This state accounts for 0.3% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in NORTH DAKOTA

NORTH DAKOTA is home to 6,609 federal civilian employees, which is 0.3% 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 -1.0%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 16 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in NORTH DAKOTA averages $91,426 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 16.8% 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 10.8 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in NORTH DAKOTA is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 1,577 employees at an average salary of $98,227. The highest-paying agency in the state is DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY at $121,968 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to NORTH DAKOTA, 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

6,609

-1.0% from prior period

Average Salary

$91,426

+2.7%

Avg Length of Service

10.8 yrs

Agencies Present

16

Salary Context

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

State Average

$91,426

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-16.8%

Federal Agencies in NORTH DAKOTA

16 federal agencies operate in NORTH DAKOTA. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 1,577 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 1,577 $98,227
2 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 1,006 $87,362
3 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 780 $77,220
4 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 759 $82,592
5 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 673 $95,261
6 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 458 $88,375
7 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 391 $89,942
8 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 155 $113,885
9 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 124 $115,332
10 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 113 $57,354
11 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 80 $94,256
12 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 79 $121,968
13 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 64 $82,571
14 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 48 $121,635
15 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 43 $103,402
16 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 12 $102,049

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 NORTH DAKOTA.

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 NORTH DAKOTA.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to NORTH DAKOTA

WYOMING

6,476 employees $90,697 avg

NEW HAMPSHIRE

5,773 employees $116,402 avg

VERMONT

5,298 employees $106,091 avg

CONNECTICUT

8,530 employees $116,447 avg

DELAWARE

4,345 employees $107,265 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 NORTH DAKOTA? ▾
NORTH DAKOTA has 6,609 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 0.3% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in NORTH DAKOTA? ▾
The average federal salary in NORTH DAKOTA is $91,426 per year, which is 16.8% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in NORTH DAKOTA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in NORTH DAKOTA with 1,577 employees and an average salary of $98,227.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in NORTH DAKOTA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY has the highest average salary among federal agencies in NORTH DAKOTA at $121,968 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in NORTH DAKOTA? ▾
16 federal agencies have employees in NORTH DAKOTA. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 1,577 employees.
How does federal employment in NORTH DAKOTA compare to other states? ▾
NORTH DAKOTA ranks among the lower-ranking states for federal employment, with 0.3% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 10.8 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