In September 2024, the federal government of the United States employed more than 1.8 million people.
While the federal government is headquartered in Washington D.C., its workforce is spread across the entire country. Federal employees are distributed unevenly, with some states and regions hosting significantly more government jobs than others. As a result, the presence of federal workers extends far beyond the capital, playing a vital role in the local economies of many communities.
When large-scale layoffs occur—whether voluntary or involuntary—the effects can vary widely depending on the region. States with a higher concentration of federal jobs are likely to feel a greater impact, potentially leading to increased volatility in both employment and housing markets. These effects may be further influenced by the income levels of the displaced workers, with certain areas facing more economic disruption than others.
Maryland leads the nation in both the number of federal workers per capita and their pay. As of September, the state had 144,497 federal employees—about 2.3 for every 100 residents. These workers earn a median salary of $137,624, the highest of any state.
After Maryland, New Jersey has the highest median salary for federal workers, with employees earning $119,187. Virginia follows closely behind, with a median federal salary of $117,962. These figures highlight how federal workers in these states tend to earn particularly high pay.
More than 150,000 California residents are employed by the federal government, making it the state with the highest number of federal workers—150,679 in total. However, when adjusted for population, California ranks 39th in the nation, with approximately 0.0038 federal jobs per capita. The median salary for these federal employees is $103,255.
Federal employees in Wyoming earn less than the median household income, despite the state ranking fifth in the nation for federal workers per capita (0.012). With a median salary of $75,956, federal workers in Wyoming make less than the U.S. median household income, which stood at $80,610 in 2023, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Connecticut has the smallest number of federal employees in the country, with just 7,304 on the payroll. This translates to the lowest rate of federal job dependence nationwide—only 0.002 federal jobs per capita. Despite the small workforce, these employees earn a median salary of $104,510 per year.
Top 10 States With the Most Federal Workers
States are ranked by the number of federal workers per capita.
1 – Maryland
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0234
- Number of federal workers: 144,497
- Median federal worker income: $137,624
- Minimum federal worker income: $19,993
- Maximum federal worker income: $519,246
- State population: 6,180,253
2 – Hawaii
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0173
- Number of federal workers: 24,804
- Median federal worker income: $94,817
- Minimum federal worker income: $26,087
- Maximum federal worker income: $404,727
- State population: 1,435,138
3 – Virginia
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0169
- Number of federal workers: 147,358
- Median federal worker income: $117,962
- Minimum federal worker income: $16,074
- Maximum federal worker income: $438,999
- State population: 8,715,698
4 – Alaska
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0159
- Number of federal workers: 11,658
- Median federal worker income: $95,614
- Minimum federal worker income: $31,200
- Maximum federal worker income: $411,367
- State population: 733,406
5 – Wyoming
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0117
- Number of federal workers: 6,832
- Median federal worker income: $75,956
- Minimum federal worker income: $20,765
- Maximum federal worker income: $375,433
- State population: 584,057
6 – New Mexico
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0107
- Number of federal workers: 22,695
- Median federal worker income: $84,878
- Minimum federal worker income: $24,814
- Maximum federal worker income: $424,305
- State population: 2,114,371
7 – Oklahoma
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0104
- Number of federal workers: 42,212
- Median federal worker income: $79,808
- Minimum federal worker income: $27,485
- Maximum federal worker income: $428,557
- State population: 4,053,824
8 – Montana
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0100
- Number of federal workers: 11,353
- Median federal worker income: $77,390
- Minimum federal worker income: $31,200
- Maximum federal worker income: $417,156
- State population: 1,132,812
9 – Utah
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0099
- Number of federal workers: 33,961
- Median federal worker income: $77,390
- Minimum federal worker income: $25,684
- Maximum federal worker income: $423,603
- State population: 3,417,734
10 – West Virginia
- Federal workers per capita: 0.0098
- Number of federal workers: 17,301
- Median federal worker income: $91,916
- Minimum federal worker income: $30,115
- Maximum federal worker income: $421,679
- State population: 1,770,071
