Federal Employment in RHODE ISLAND
Federal workforce data for RHODE ISLAND. This state accounts for 0.4% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.
What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in RHODE ISLAND
RHODE ISLAND is home to 9,077 federal civilian employees, which is 0.4% 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 17 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.
Pay in RHODE ISLAND averages $116,293 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 5.8% above 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 11.3 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.
The largest federal employer in RHODE ISLAND is DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY with 4,556 employees at an average salary of $120,089. The highest-paying agency in the state is DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE at $135,302 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to RHODE ISLAND, 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
9,077
-1.1% from prior period
Average Salary
$116,293
+2.1%
Avg Length of Service
11.3 yrs
Agencies Present
17
Salary Context
How federal pay in RHODE ISLAND compares to the national average of $109,869
State Average
$116,293
National Average
$109,869
vs. National Avg
+5.8%
Federal Agencies in RHODE ISLAND
17 federal agencies operate in RHODE ISLAND. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY is the largest with 4,556 employees.
| # | Agency | Employees | Avg Salary | Avg LOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY | 4,556 | $120,089 | 12.1 yrs |
| 2 | DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS | 2,353 | $115,536 | 9.6 yrs |
| 3 | DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | 381 | $95,803 | 11.9 yrs |
| 4 | DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY | 221 | $90,185 | 8.5 yrs |
| 5 | DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE | 205 | $99,878 | 12.3 yrs |
| 6 | DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE | 152 | $96,397 | 6.2 yrs |
| 7 | DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE | 151 | $97,898 | 7.1 yrs |
| 8 | SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION | 142 | $106,823 | 16.5 yrs |
| 9 | DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE | 122 | $135,302 | 14.2 yrs |
| 10 | DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY | 102 | $122,537 | 15.8 yrs |
| 11 | DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION | 76 | $127,736 | 14.9 yrs |
| 12 | ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY | 72 | $135,218 | 14.3 yrs |
| 13 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES | 65 | $122,249 | 9.4 yrs |
| 14 | DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR | 52 | $100,857 | 12.2 yrs |
| 15 | DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE | 47 | $94,453 | 10.8 yrs |
| 16 | DEPARTMENT OF LABOR | 15 | $121,588 | 14.6 yrs |
| 17 | GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION | 14 | $117,784 | 17.2 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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