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Federal Employment in TENNESSEE

Federal workforce data for TENNESSEE. This state accounts for 1.6% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in TENNESSEE

TENNESSEE is home to 35,647 federal civilian employees, which is 1.6% 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 -1.2%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 25 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in TENNESSEE averages $93,701 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 14.7% 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 10.6 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in TENNESSEE is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 13,528 employees at an average salary of $105,293. The highest-paying agency in the state is NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION at $144,950 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to TENNESSEE, 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

35,647

-1.2% from prior period

Average Salary

$93,701

+2.6%

Avg Length of Service

10.6 yrs

Agencies Present

25

Salary Context

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

State Average

$93,701

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-14.7%

Federal Agencies in TENNESSEE

25 federal agencies operate in TENNESSEE. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 13,528 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 13,528 $105,293
2 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 5,859 $68,193
3 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 2,874 $85,168
4 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 1,803 $80,471
5 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,572 $70,935
6 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 1,438 $80,986
7 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 1,419 $85,398
8 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 1,223 $108,435
9 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 1,012 $135,154
10 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 992 $96,899
11 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 908 $93,697
12 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 681 $81,605
13 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 641 $129,373
14 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 384 $108,595
15 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 275 $90,374
16 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 94 $142,759
17 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 76 $110,791
18 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 73 $80,904
19 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 68 $102,767
20 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 54 $113,356
21 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 46 $144,950
22 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 46 $121,100
23 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 23 $110,646
24 NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 19 $115,587
25 OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 14 $118,362

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 TENNESSEE.

PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 TENNESSEE.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to TENNESSEE

UTAH

35,410 employees $89,025 avg

MICHIGAN

35,962 employees $109,574 avg

MISSOURI

40,913 employees $93,101 avg

MASSACHUSETTS

29,918 employees $115,743 avg

NEW JERSEY

29,311 employees $121,168 avg

HAWAII

27,836 employees $101,199 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 TENNESSEE? ▾
TENNESSEE has 35,647 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 1.6% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in TENNESSEE? ▾
The average federal salary in TENNESSEE is $93,701 per year, which is 14.7% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in TENNESSEE? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in TENNESSEE with 13,528 employees and an average salary of $105,293.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in TENNESSEE? ▾
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in TENNESSEE at $144,950 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in TENNESSEE? ▾
25 federal agencies have employees in TENNESSEE. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 13,528 employees.
How does federal employment in TENNESSEE compare to other states? ▾
TENNESSEE ranks among the mid-range states for federal employment, with 1.6% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 10.6 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