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Federal Employment in SOUTH DAKOTA

Federal workforce data for SOUTH DAKOTA. 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 SOUTH DAKOTA

SOUTH DAKOTA is home to 9,174 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 -2.6%, 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 SOUTH DAKOTA averages $89,016 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 19.0% 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 SOUTH DAKOTA is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 3,126 employees at an average salary of $92,696. The highest-paying agency in the state is FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION at $138,876 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to SOUTH 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

9,174

-2.6% from prior period

Average Salary

$89,016

+4.3%

Avg Length of Service

11 yrs

Agencies Present

16

Salary Context

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

State Average

$89,016

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-19.0%

Federal Agencies in SOUTH DAKOTA

16 federal agencies operate in SOUTH DAKOTA. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 3,126 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 3,126 $92,696
2 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 1,360 $88,852
3 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 1,173 $80,388
4 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,000 $78,482
5 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 638 $76,887
6 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 536 $86,954
7 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 264 $100,580
8 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 205 $125,826
9 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 148 $81,935
10 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 89 $113,177
11 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 87 $88,991
12 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 80 $93,502
13 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 80 $107,556
14 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 79 $58,718
15 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 38 $138,876
16 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 11 $98,348

Related Federal Data

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WageDex — Salary Data

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PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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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 DAKOTA.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to SOUTH DAKOTA

RHODE ISLAND

9,077 employees $116,293 avg

CONNECTICUT

8,530 employees $116,447 avg

IOWA

10,513 employees $97,054 avg

IDAHO

11,094 employees $91,228 avg

MONTANA

11,350 employees $91,837 avg

NORTH DAKOTA

6,609 employees $91,426 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 DAKOTA? ▾
SOUTH DAKOTA has 9,174 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 0.4% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in SOUTH DAKOTA? ▾
The average federal salary in SOUTH DAKOTA is $89,016 per year, which is 19.0% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in SOUTH DAKOTA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in SOUTH DAKOTA with 3,126 employees and an average salary of $92,696.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in SOUTH DAKOTA? ▾
FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in SOUTH DAKOTA at $138,876 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in SOUTH DAKOTA? ▾
16 federal agencies have employees in SOUTH DAKOTA. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 3,126 employees.
How does federal employment in SOUTH DAKOTA compare to other states? ▾
SOUTH DAKOTA ranks among the lower-ranking states for federal employment, with 0.4% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11 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