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Federal Employment in WASHINGTON

Federal workforce data for WASHINGTON. This state accounts for 2.8% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in WASHINGTON

WASHINGTON is home to 64,218 federal civilian employees, which is 2.8% 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 -2.0%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 34 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in WASHINGTON averages $105,919 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 3.6% 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 11.7 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in WASHINGTON is DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY with 20,670 employees at an average salary of $98,807. The highest-paying agency in the state is FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM at $188,393 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to WASHINGTON, 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

64,218

-2.0% from prior period

Average Salary

$105,919

+3.7%

Avg Length of Service

11.7 yrs

Agencies Present

34

Salary Context

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

State Average

$105,919

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-3.6%

Federal Agencies in WASHINGTON

34 federal agencies operate in WASHINGTON. DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY is the largest with 20,670 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 20,670 $98,807
2 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 10,077 $113,065
3 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 5,816 $98,497
4 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 5,011 $102,010
5 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 4,344 $98,165
6 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 2,362 $83,699
7 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 2,344 $97,912
8 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 2,333 $135,675
9 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 2,284 $143,553
10 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 1,243 $87,217
11 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 1,214 $125,500
12 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 1,114 $119,737
13 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 1,110 $103,999
14 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 1,034 $110,020
15 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 960 $118,562
16 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 580 $131,465
17 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 375 $126,402
18 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 205 $122,573
19 DEPARTMENT OF STATE 120 $107,981
20 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 104 $131,215
21 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 71 $107,062
22 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 52 $161,350
23 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION 41 $140,192
24 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 39 $114,376
25 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 34 $142,301
26 FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION 29 $175,412
27 NATIONAL CREDIT UNION ADMINISTRATION 24 $116,615
28 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM 23 $188,393
29 NAT ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION 19 $91,828
30 PEACE CORPS 15 $114,511
31 U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEV 15 $160,017
32 OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 15 $137,533
33 NAT AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 12 $159,487
34 NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD 11 $146,477

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 WASHINGTON.

PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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

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 WASHINGTON.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to WASHINGTON

OHIO

60,425 employees $108,213 avg

NORTH CAROLINA

57,025 employees $100,537 avg

NEW YORK

71,437 employees $108,166 avg

PENNSYLVANIA

74,194 employees $101,309 avg

ILLINOIS

53,474 employees $109,781 avg

ARIZONA

46,211 employees $98,796 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 WASHINGTON? ▾
WASHINGTON has 64,218 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 2.8% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in WASHINGTON? ▾
The average federal salary in WASHINGTON is $105,919 per year, which is 3.6% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in WASHINGTON? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY is the largest federal employer in WASHINGTON with 20,670 employees and an average salary of $98,807.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in WASHINGTON? ▾
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM has the highest average salary among federal agencies in WASHINGTON at $188,393 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in WASHINGTON? ▾
34 federal agencies have employees in WASHINGTON. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY with 20,670 employees.
How does federal employment in WASHINGTON compare to other states? ▾
WASHINGTON ranks among the mid-range states for federal employment, with 2.8% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 11.7 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