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Federal Employment in SOUTH CAROLINA

Federal workforce data for SOUTH CAROLINA. This state accounts for 1.2% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH CAROLINA is home to 27,608 federal civilian employees, which is 1.2% 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 -0.0%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 24 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in SOUTH CAROLINA averages $98,606 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 10.3% 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 SOUTH CAROLINA is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 8,556 employees at an average salary of $104,428. The highest-paying agency in the state is DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY at $145,730 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to SOUTH CAROLINA, 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

27,608

-0.0% from prior period

Average Salary

$98,606

+2.6%

Avg Length of Service

11.2 yrs

Agencies Present

24

Salary Context

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

State Average

$98,606

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-10.3%

Federal Agencies in SOUTH CAROLINA

24 federal agencies operate in SOUTH CAROLINA. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 8,556 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 8,556 $104,428
2 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 4,175 $114,234
3 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 3,078 $82,863
4 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 1,920 $80,910
5 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 1,615 $81,146
6 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 1,601 $93,738
7 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 1,523 $90,362
8 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,083 $75,198
9 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 663 $105,197
10 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 583 $92,396
11 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 500 $101,483
12 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 351 $145,730
13 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 332 $114,994
14 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 278 $108,769
15 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 269 $84,991
16 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 255 $102,202
17 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 88 $77,542
18 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 59 $121,049
19 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 33 $94,180
20 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 27 $135,387
21 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 19 $107,513
22 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 19 $142,124
23 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 15 $115,394
24 OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 11 $127,925

Related Federal Data

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

WageDex — Salary Data

BLS occupation salary data for 831 occupations across all US metros. Compare federal vs. private sector pay in SOUTH CAROLINA.

PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 SOUTH CAROLINA.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to SOUTH CAROLINA

HAWAII

27,836 employees $101,199 avg

INDIANA

26,912 employees $98,539 avg

KENTUCKY

26,542 employees $90,123 avg

NEW JERSEY

29,311 employees $121,168 avg

NEW MEXICO

25,401 employees $97,618 avg

MASSACHUSETTS

29,918 employees $115,743 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 SOUTH CAROLINA? ▾
SOUTH CAROLINA has 27,608 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 1.2% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in SOUTH CAROLINA? ▾
The average federal salary in SOUTH CAROLINA is $98,606 per year, which is 10.3% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in SOUTH CAROLINA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in SOUTH CAROLINA with 8,556 employees and an average salary of $104,428.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in SOUTH CAROLINA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY has the highest average salary among federal agencies in SOUTH CAROLINA at $145,730 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in SOUTH CAROLINA? ▾
24 federal agencies have employees in SOUTH CAROLINA. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 8,556 employees.
How does federal employment in SOUTH CAROLINA compare to other states? ▾
SOUTH CAROLINA ranks among the mid-range states for federal employment, with 1.2% 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