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

Top 10 States Where Federal Workers Earn the Most

States are ranked based on the median earnings of federal employees.

1. Maryland
   • Median federal worker income: $137,624
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.02338
   • Number of federal workers: 144,497
   • Minimum federal worker income: $19,993
   • Maximum federal worker income: $519,246
   • State population: 6,180,253
2. New Jersey
   • Median federal worker income: $119,187
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.00244
   • Number of federal workers: 22,684
   • Minimum federal worker income: $26,087
   • Maximum federal worker income: $413,695
   • State population: 9,290,841
3. Virginia
   • Median federal worker income: $117,962
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.01691
   • Number of federal workers: 147,358
   • Minimum federal worker income: $16,074
   • Maximum federal worker income: $438,999
   • State population: 8,715,698
4. Rhode Island
   • Median federal worker income: $108,402
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.00785
   • Number of federal workers: 8,598
   • Minimum federal worker income: $26,087
   • Maximum federal worker income: $421,227
   • State population: 1,095,962
5. Massachusetts
   • Median federal worker income: $107,691
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.00367
   • Number of federal workers: 25,698
   • Minimum federal worker income: $16,074
   • Maximum federal worker income: $436,373
   • State population: 7,001,399
6. Colorado
   • Median federal worker income: $105,985
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.00700
   • Number of federal workers: 41,167
   • Minimum federal worker income: $31,200
   • Maximum federal worker income: $419,330
   • State population: 5,877,610
7. New Hampshire
   • Median federal worker income: $104,788
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.00371
   • Number of federal workers: 5,208
   • Minimum federal worker income: $31,200
   • Maximum federal worker income: $422,091
   • State population: 1,402,054
8. Connecticut
   • Median federal worker income: $104,510
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.00202
   • Number of federal workers: 7,304
   • Minimum federal worker income: $31,200
   • Maximum federal worker income: $432,551
   • State population: 3,617,176
9. California
   • Median federal worker income: $103,255
   • Federal workers per capita: 0.00387
   • Number of federal workers: 150,679
   • Minimum federal worker income: $16,074
   • Maximum federal worker income: $446,849
   • State population: 38,965,193
10. Ohio
    • Median federal worker income: $99,862
    • Federal workers per capita: 0.00476
    • Number of federal workers: 56,068
    • Minimum federal worker income: $25,204
    • Maximum federal worker income: $428,999
    • State population: 11,785,935

Data and Methodology

Data for federal employment comes from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management as of September 2024. Per capita estimates for this SmartAsset study are based on the latest U.S. Census Bureau population estimates from the 1-Year American Community Survey for 2023.