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Federal Employment in WISCONSIN

Federal workforce data for WISCONSIN. This state accounts for 0.8% of the total federal civilian workforce. Source: OPM FedScope, March 2025.

What the Numbers Say About Federal Employment in WISCONSIN

WISCONSIN is home to 19,227 federal civilian employees, which is 0.8% 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 -2.3%, reflecting the combined effect of new hires via USAJOBS, retirements, inter-state transfers, and attrition across the 23 federal agencies currently operating on state soil.

Pay in WISCONSIN averages $99,600 across all federal grades and occupations, placing the state 9.3% 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 10.4 years — a signal of workforce stability and the degree to which federal careers anchor local economies.

The largest federal employer in WISCONSIN is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 10,504 employees at an average salary of $105,274. The highest-paying agency in the state is NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD at $136,139 average salary. For job seekers browsing USAJOBS postings filtered to WISCONSIN, 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

19,227

-2.3% from prior period

Average Salary

$99,600

+3.2%

Avg Length of Service

10.4 yrs

Agencies Present

23

Salary Context

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

State Average

$99,600

National Average

$109,869

vs. National Avg

-9.3%

Federal Agencies in WISCONSIN

23 federal agencies operate in WISCONSIN. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest with 10,504 employees.

# Agency Employees Avg Salary
1 DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 10,504 $105,274
2 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY 1,778 $81,018
3 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 1,767 $83,880
4 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY 845 $80,756
5 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 760 $107,194
6 DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR 750 $91,372
7 SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 524 $95,337
8 DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY 341 $117,090
9 DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE 322 $87,273
10 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 272 $87,992
11 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 222 $119,579
12 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 170 $107,842
13 DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY 113 $104,708
14 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE 98 $91,132
15 FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION 93 $129,810
16 DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 92 $101,856
17 GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 56 $115,395
18 DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPM 29 $127,340
19 SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION 26 $97,938
20 NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD 22 $136,139
21 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION 21 $109,365
22 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 18 $133,459
23 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 14 $99,140

Related Federal Data

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PlainWorker — Worker Protections

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PlainPension — Pension Data

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PlainCost — Cost of Living

BEA Regional Price Parities for 387 metros. See how far your federal salary goes in WISCONSIN.

Similar States by Federal Employment

States with a similar federal workforce size to WISCONSIN

KANSAS

18,747 employees $96,116 avg

MISSISSIPPI

20,904 employees $91,486 avg

MINNESOTA

21,114 employees $105,911 avg

OREGON

21,483 employees $102,137 avg

NEVADA

16,744 employees $99,250 avg

WEST VIRGINIA

22,450 employees $100,190 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many federal employees work in WISCONSIN? ▾
WISCONSIN has 19,227 federal civilian employees as of March 2025. This represents 0.8% of the total federal civilian workforce of 2,289,472.
What is the average federal salary in WISCONSIN? ▾
The average federal salary in WISCONSIN is $99,600 per year, which is 9.3% below the national federal average of $109,869.
Which federal agency has the most employees in WISCONSIN? ▾
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS is the largest federal employer in WISCONSIN with 10,504 employees and an average salary of $105,274.
What is the highest-paying federal agency in WISCONSIN? ▾
NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD has the highest average salary among federal agencies in WISCONSIN at $136,139 per year.
How many federal agencies operate in WISCONSIN? ▾
23 federal agencies have employees in WISCONSIN. The largest is DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS with 10,504 employees.
How does federal employment in WISCONSIN compare to other states? ▾
WISCONSIN ranks among the lower-ranking states for federal employment, with 0.8% of the total federal civilian workforce. The average length of service is 10.4 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