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Federal Employment in TEXAS

Federal workforce data for TEXAS. This state accounts for 7.5% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in TEXAS

TEXAS is home to 171,064 federal civilian employees, which is 7.5% 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 up by 0.4%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 46 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in TEXAS averages $102,154 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 7.0% 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 11.8 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in TEXAS is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 37,709 employees at an average salary of $108,752. The highest-paying agency in the state is SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION at $220,636 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to TEXAS, 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

171,064

+0.4% from prior period

Average Salary

$102,154

+2.2%

Avg Length of Service

11.8 yrs

Agencies Present

46

Salary Context

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

State Average

$102,154

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-7.0%

Federal Agencies in TEXAS

46 federal agencies operate in TEXAS. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 37,709 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 37,709 $108,752
2 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 34,141 $98,317
3 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 16,988 $94,734
4 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 16,822 $91,757
5 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 13,003 $86,018
6 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 12,891 $95,450
7 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 9,259 $106,473
8 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 4,777 $142,670
9 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 4,342 $80,317
10 NAT AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 3,197 $159,285
11 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 3,185 $99,234
12 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 1,865 $85,318
13 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 1,706 $122,727
14 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 1,609 $90,497
15 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 1,582 $105,845
16 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 1,353 $93,651
17 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 1,131 $121,467
18 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 925 $115,595
19 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 851 $126,328
20 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 671 $177,299
21 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 485 $130,838
22 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 346 $131,399
23 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 244 $111,903
24 INTER BOUND AND WATER COMM U.S. SECTION 239 $84,766
25 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 183 $148,102
26 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 172 $111,998
27 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 154 $134,156
28 NAT ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION 126 $91,850
29 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 125 $220,636
30 NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 101 $142,535
31 OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 86 $124,624
32 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 42 $178,020
33 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 42 $131,585
34 U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEV 41 $125,751
35 FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION 35 $150,023
36 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 25 $164,937
37 RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD 25 $102,475
38 PEACE CORPS 24 $105,521
39 CORP FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE 20 $114,581
40 DFC 17 $110,102
41 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16 $97,448
42 PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION 14 $138,260
43 MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD 13 $172,721
44 NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 12 $164,450
45 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 11 $121,644
46 CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION 11 $123,545

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 TEXAS.

PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 TEXAS.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to TEXAS

VIRGINIA

167,789 employees $124,988 avg

CALIFORNIA

182,276 employees $115,994 avg

MARYLAND

149,707 employees $138,453 avg

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

141,613 employees $150,626 avg

FLORIDA

117,353 employees $102,985 avg

GEORGIA

90,219 employees $100,945 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 TEXAS? ▾
TEXAS has 171,064 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 7.5% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in TEXAS? ▾
The average federal salary in TEXAS is $102,154 per year, which is 7.0% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in TEXAS? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in TEXAS with 37,709 employees and an average salary of $108,752.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in TEXAS? ▾
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in TEXAS at $220,636 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in TEXAS? ▾
46 federal agencies have employees in TEXAS. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 37,709 employees.
How does federal employment in TEXAS compare to other states? ▾
TEXAS ranks among the top states for federal employment, with 7.5% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11.8 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