With over 2.1 million civilian employees and counting, the federal workforce is a vast and complex engine powering the nation, and new data reveals who they are, what they earn, and the powerful trends reshaping this critical sector from within.
Key Takeaways
- As of September 2023, the total federal civilian executive branch workforce stood at 2,109,770 employees, excluding U.S. Postal Service workers
- In fiscal year 2022, federal civilian employment grew by 2.1% to reach 2.92 million including postal workers
- The Department of Defense accounted for 52% of the federal civilian workforce in 2023, with approximately 775,000 non-postal employees
- In 2022, women made up 43.4% of the total federal workforce, totaling 920,000 employees
- The average age of federal civilian employees was 47.2 years in 2023
- Black or African American employees comprised 18.3% of federal workforce in 2022, about 390,000 people
- The average annual salary for federal civilian employees was $95,361 in 2023
- General Schedule locality pay averaged 21.31% above base in 2023
- Federal employee health insurance premiums averaged $142 biweekly for self in 2024 FEHB
- Federal voluntary turnover rate was 8.2% in FY2023
- Involuntary separations (reductions in force) affected 2,100 employees in 2022
- Federal hiring rate was 12.5% of workforce annually in 2023, totaling 265,000 new hires
- 35% bachelor's, 27% master's degrees among federal employees in 2023
- STEM occupations comprised 15% of federal workforce with 320,000 employees 2022
- 12% of feds held doctorate or professional degrees in FY2023
The federal workforce grew to over two million employees, led primarily by the Department of Defense.
Demographic Breakdown
1In 2022, women made up 43.4% of the total federal workforce, totaling 920,000 employees
Verified2The average age of federal civilian employees was 47.2 years in 2023
Verified3Black or African American employees comprised 18.3% of federal workforce in 2022, about 390,000 people
Verified4Hispanic or Latino federal workers were 9.5% in 2023, totaling 200,000 employees
Directional5Asian employees represented 6.8% of federal civilians in 2022, numbering 145,000
Single source6White employees were 65.2% of the workforce in 2023, about 1.38 million
Verified7Employees with disabilities were 16.8% under self-identification in FY2022
Verified8Veterans aged 65+ were 12% of veteran federal employees in 2022
Verified9In 2023, 34% of federal executives were women, up from 28% in 2010
Directional10GS-13 to GS-15 levels had 52% men in 2022
Single source11Federal workers under 30 years old were 7.2% in 2023, totaling 152,000
Verified12Employees 60+ years comprised 19.5% of workforce in 2022, about 410,000
Verified13Native American/Alaska Native employees were 1.8% in FY2022, 38,000 total
Verified14Multiracial federal employees grew to 2.1% by 2023
Directional15In SES, 39% were women and 18% minorities in 2022
Single source16LGBTQ+ self-identified federal employees were 3.2% in 2021 FEVS survey
Verified17In 2023, 25% of federal STEM workforce were women
Verified18Black women held 11% of federal professional positions in 2022
Verified19Average tenure of federal employees was 12.5 years in 2023
Directional20Foreign-born federal civilians were 7.8% in 2022, about 165,000
Single source21Union membership among federal workers was 62% in 2023
Verified22In 2022, 44% of federal attorneys were women
Verified23Military spouses in federal workforce were 5.2% self-identified in 2023
Verified24Gen Z federal employees (born 1997+) were 4.5% in 2023
Directional25Baby Boomers retiring pace averaged 40,000 per year 2020-2023
Single source26In 2023, 28% of federal IT specialists were women
Verified27Pacific Islander employees were 0.6% of workforce in FY2022
Verified28Non-binary gender identified at 0.4% in FEVS 2022
VerifiedDemographic Breakdown Interpretation
The federal workforce is a seasoned, unionized collective where diversity is making steady but deliberate progress, yet still mirrors a generational relay race where the baton is being passed with one eye on the demographic clock and the other on the retirement queue.
Education and Training
135% bachelor's, 27% master's degrees among federal employees in 2023
Verified2STEM occupations comprised 15% of federal workforce with 320,000 employees 2022
Verified312% of feds held doctorate or professional degrees in FY2023
Verified4Mandatory training hours averaged 40 per employee annually in 2022
Directional5IT specialists required 80 hours cybersecurity training yearly per FISMA 2023
Single source6Leadership development programs enrolled 50,000 executives in 2023
Verified765% of SES had advanced degrees in 2022
Verified8Federal acquisition workforce training budget $300 million in FY2023
Verified9Language skills training served 10,000 feds with DLPT certifications 2022
Directional10Tuition assistance averaged $4,500 per employee for 40,000 in 2023
Single source11OPM Enterprise Human Resources Integration trained 100,000 users 2023
Verified1222% of workforce had no college degree but vocational certs in 2022
Verified13Diversity training mandatory for 1.5 million non-SES in FY2023
Verified14Federal Academic Alliance partnerships trained 20,000 in STEM 2023
Directional15Performance management training reached 80% compliance in 2022
Single source16Supervisory training required 40 hours for new managers, 90% completion 2023
Verified17Apprenticeship programs graduated 5,000 journeymen in FY2023
Verified18Continuing professional education credits averaged 24 CPE for accountants 2022
Verified19Emergency management training via FEMA for 200,000 feds yearly
Directional20Data science bootcamps trained 8,000 analysts in 2023
Single source21Ethics training 100% mandatory with 3 hours annual average 2023
Verified2245% of feds had security clearances requiring training refresh
Verified23HHS learning management system courses completed 2 million in 2022
Verified24DoD civilian training investment $1.2 billion for 750,000 employees 2023
Directional25VA had 70% workforce with healthcare-related certifications 2023
Single source26USDA agricultural specialists 80% with advanced ag degrees 2022
VerifiedEducation and Training Interpretation
The federal government is a highly educated, perpetually trained, and meticulously specialized machine where 35% hold bachelor's degrees and training ranges from mandatory ethics briefings to cybersecurity marathons, all while nearly a quarter of the workforce proves you can build a formidable public service engine with vocational certs instead of college sheepskins.
Employment Size and Growth
1As of September 2023, the total federal civilian executive branch workforce stood at 2,109,770 employees, excluding U.S. Postal Service workers
Verified2In fiscal year 2022, federal civilian employment grew by 2.1% to reach 2.92 million including postal workers
Verified3The Department of Defense accounted for 52% of the federal civilian workforce in 2023, with approximately 775,000 non-postal employees
Verified4Federal workforce excluding DOD and postal service was 1.87 million in Q4 2023
Directional5From 2019 to 2023, non-postal federal civilian employment increased by 7.4%, adding 152,000 jobs
Single source6Veterans comprised 29.5% of the federal workforce in 2022, totaling about 580,000 employees
Verified7In 2023, the Department of Veterans Affairs employed 407,000 civilians, the second largest after DOD
Verified8Federal employment in the Washington DC area was 298,000 in 2023, representing 14% of total civilian workforce
Verified9Postal Service workforce was 614,000 in FY2023, down 4% from prior year
Directional10Executive branch civilian full-time employees numbered 2.1 million in September 2023
Single source11Legislative branch workforce totaled 31,000 in 2023
Verified12Judicial branch federal employees were about 33,000 in FY2023
Verified13Non-career Senior Executive Service (SES) positions grew to 8% of total SES in 2023
Verified14Federal workforce in GS scale was 1.6 million in 2023, 76% of non-postal civilians
Directional15Wage Grade (WG) federal employees numbered 190,000 in FY2023
Single source16In 2022, Homeland Security had 240,000 civilians, third largest agency workforce
Verified17Treasury Department civilian workforce was 105,000 in 2023
Verified18Justice Department employed 113,000 civilians in FY2023
Verified19Federal civilian employment peaked at 3 million including postal in 1990, now 32% lower
Directional20Remote federal workers increased to 15% of workforce by 2023 post-pandemic
Single source21In Q1 2024, total non-postal federal civilians at 2.12 million, up 0.5%
Verified22Agriculture Department workforce was 98,000 in 2023
Verified23Energy Department civilians numbered 15,000 direct employees plus contractors
Verified24Interior Department had 70,000 employees in FY2023
Directional25Transportation workforce was 55,000 civilians in 2023
Single source26HHS employed 82,000 in 2023
Verified27Education Department had 4,200 employees in FY2023
Verified28NASA workforce was 18,000 civil servants in 2023
Verified29EPA had 15,000 employees in 2023
Directional30Small Business Administration workforce totaled 3,400 in FY2023
Single sourceEmployment Size and Growth Interpretation
While the headlines shout about 'bloated bureaucracies,' the reality is a surprisingly nimble and diverse 2.1 million person engine—powered overwhelmingly by career civil servants and veterans—that quietly runs everything from our parks and veterans' care to our space program, with its real size and shape constantly being misunderstood by the very debates it fuels.
Mobility and Turnover
1Federal voluntary turnover rate was 8.2% in FY2023
Verified2Involuntary separations (reductions in force) affected 2,100 employees in 2022
Verified3Federal hiring rate was 12.5% of workforce annually in 2023, totaling 265,000 new hires
Verified4Retirement rate peaked at 5.8% of workforce in FY2022, 122,000 retirees
Directional5Interagency mobility rate was 4.1% in 2023, with 87,000 transfers
Single source6Direct hire authority used for 45,000 positions in FY2023
Verified7Schedule A hiring for disabilities filled 7,500 jobs in 2022
Verified8Attrition rate for new hires under 1 year was 10% in 2023
Verified9SES turnover was 12% annually averaging 700 vacancies in 2022
Directional10Reemployed annuitants numbered 20,000 in FY2023
Single source11Internal promotions filled 40% of vacancies in 2023
Verified12Time-to-hire averaged 120 days for competitive positions in 2022
Verified13Recent graduate hiring program placed 15,000 in FY2023
Verified14Pathways internship conversions to permanent were 70% in 2022
Directional15Early retirement offers under VSIP accepted by 4,000 in 2023
Single source16Grievances and appeals resolved 95% without MSPB in FY2022
Verified17Probationary terminations were 1.2% of hires in first year 2023
Verified18Detail assignments averaged 6 months for 50,000 employees yearly
Verified19Overseas assignment turnover 15% higher than domestic in 2022
Directional20STEM hiring surged 20% post-CHIPS Act with 10,000 placements 2023
Single source21Diversity hiring targets met 85% via targeted outreach in FY2023
Verified22Buyout offers accepted by 2,500 under workforce reshaping in 2022
Verified23Temporary promotions lasted average 180 days for 30,000 feds 2023
Verified24EOD (effective date of hire) delays averaged 45 days in 2023
Directional25Return-to-service rehires were 25,000 annually post-retirement
Single source26Agency-specific RIFs impacted 1,000 in VA reorganization 2023
VerifiedMobility and Turnover Interpretation
Amidst a steady churn of retirements and new faces, the federal workforce is a complex, breathing ecosystem where nearly as many people are moving through the door for coffee as are heading out for golf, all while the gears of hiring grind slowly and the internal ladder of promotion remains the most reliable elevator.
Pay and Benefits
1The average annual salary for federal civilian employees was $95,361 in 2023
Verified2General Schedule locality pay averaged 21.31% above base in 2023
Verified3Federal employee health insurance premiums averaged $142 biweekly for self in 2024 FEHB
Verified4Thrift Savings Plan participation was 90% with average balance $167,000 in 2023
Directional5Average federal retirement annuity was $35,000 annually for new retirees in FY2022
Single source6GS-15 step 10 base pay was $176,458 nationwide in 2024
Verified7FERS contribution rate is 4.4% employee + 5% agency automatic in 2023
Verified8Paid leave for federal employees averages 26 days annual + 13 sick in 2023
Verified9Overtime pay for WG employees averaged $5,200 per year in 2022
Directional10SES average salary was $189,000 in 2023
Single source11FEHB covers 8 million lives with average family premium $482 biweekly employer share 65%
Verified12Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program enrolled 9 million in 2023
Verified13Locality pay for San Jose-San Francisco highest at 47.14% in 2024 GS
Verified14Average performance award was $1,200 for GS employees in FY2022
Directional15CSRS retirees average $3,800 monthly vs FERS $1,800 in 2023 data
Single source16Student Loan Repayment Program benefited 20,000 employees up to $10k/year in 2022
Verified17Recruitment incentives averaged $15,000 for new hires in FY2023
Verified18Retention allowances up to 25% salary paid to 5% of workforce in 2022
Verified19FEGLI coverage averages $400,000 basic life insurance
Directional20Flexible Spending Accounts used by 25% of feds, averaging $1,500 FSAFEDS in 2023
Single source21Transit benefits up to $315 monthly pre-tax in 2024
Verified22Childcare subsidies averaged $5,000 per child for 10,000 feds in 2023
Verified23Average QSI (Quality Step Increase) granted to 8% of workforce worth 3% pay bump
Verified24Presidential Rank Awards totaled $3.2 million for 300 executives in 2022
Directional25WG locality pay in DC area averaged 32% premium in 2023
Single source26FERS supplement averages $900 monthly for early retirees under MRA
Verified27Longevity pay phased out but legacy WG got average $2/hour extra
Verified28Average federal pay raise was 4.6% in 2023 across scales
Verified29New hire attrition incentives cost $500 million annually in 2022
Directional30Telework saves feds $1 billion in commuting costs yearly per OPM 2023
Single source31Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments up to $40,000 offered to 5,000 in 2023
VerifiedPay and Benefits Interpretation
The federal workforce operates on a deceptively simple bargain: a respectable but not extravagant average salary of $95,361 is the foundation for a comprehensive, often Byzantine, ecosystem of locality adjustments, retirement plans, health benefits, and niche incentives that together form a formidable—and occasionally bewildering—total compensation package designed to attract and retain talent in lieu of purely competitive cash.
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