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Federal Employment in VIRGINIA

Federal workforce data for VIRGINIA. This state accounts for 7.3% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in VIRGINIA

VIRGINIA is home to 167,789 federal civilian employees, which is 7.3% 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 -0.5%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 49 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in VIRGINIA averages $124,988 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 13.8% 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 12.3 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in VIRGINIA is DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY with 47,970 employees at an average salary of $105,027. The highest-paying agency in the state is SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION at $229,233 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to VIRGINIA, 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

167,789

-0.5% from prior period

Average Salary

$124,988

+3.5%

Avg Length of Service

12.3 yrs

Agencies Present

49

Salary Context

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

State Average

$124,988

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

+13.8%

Federal Agencies in VIRGINIA

49 federal agencies operate in VIRGINIA. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY is the largest with 47,970 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 47,970 $105,027
2 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 30,006 $125,523
3 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 16,974 $126,207
4 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 16,467 $126,952
5 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 12,471 $113,767
6 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 8,684 $172,336
7 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 7,063 $134,381
8 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 6,948 $159,593
9 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 3,203 $123,316
10 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 2,308 $117,490
11 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 2,208 $157,757
12 NAT AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 2,067 $143,595
13 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 1,918 $141,078
14 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 1,574 $125,087
15 NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 1,375 $163,865
16 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 1,163 $151,914
17 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 678 $96,881
18 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 559 $133,322
19 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 453 $150,641
20 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 384 $165,024
21 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 373 $103,996
22 NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 363 $179,099
23 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 290 $143,262
24 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 212 $113,105
25 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 203 $153,250
26 U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEV 181 $154,718
27 FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION 172 $191,701
28 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 161 $229,233
29 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 151 $151,495
30 OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 133 $136,706
31 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 105 $201,118
32 PEACE CORPS 74 $144,005
33 TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY 55 $148,142
34 U.S.AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA 42 $153,847
35 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 41 $109,094
36 FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY 39 $217,037
37 SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM 38 $146,410
38 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 32 $167,269
39 AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION 29 $153,318
40 CORP FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE 28 $117,158
41 PENSION BENEFIT GUARANTY CORPORATION 27 $156,076
42 DFC 26 $160,636
43 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 19 $155,229
44 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 18 $109,471
45 NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION 17 $151,026
46 RAILROAD RETIREMENT BOARD 15 $122,580
47 NUCLEAR WASTE TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARD 12 $163,469
48 NAT FOUNDATION ON ARTS AND HUMANITIES 12 $127,559
49 MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD 11 $180,200

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 VIRGINIA.

PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 VIRGINIA.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to VIRGINIA

TEXAS

171,064 employees $102,154 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 VIRGINIA? ▾
VIRGINIA has 167,789 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 7.3% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in VIRGINIA? ▾
The average federal salary in VIRGINIA is $124,988 per year, which is 13.8% above the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in VIRGINIA? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY is the largest federal employer in VIRGINIA with 47,970 employees and an average salary of $105,027.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in VIRGINIA? ▾
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION has the highest average salary among federal agencies in VIRGINIA at $229,233 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in VIRGINIA? ▾
49 federal agencies have employees in VIRGINIA. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY with 47,970 employees.
How does federal employment in VIRGINIA compare to other states? ▾
VIRGINIA ranks among the top states for federal employment, with 7.3% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 12.3 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