PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in Massachusetts

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in Massachusetts earned a median of $112,523 in September 2026, 3% above the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #7 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$112,523
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$79,272–$148,731
25th–75th percentile
Employees
16,298
with published duty station
Rank
#7
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Massachusetts
All federal (full-time)

OPM withheld the duty-station location for 943,611 federal employees nationwide, including the entire Department of Defense civilian workforce and large parts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. Those employees are not counted in any state, so state totals understate the federal presence, especially in states with large military installations.

Pay by occupation in Massachusetts

The 30 largest occupations in Massachusetts with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (92 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in Massachusetts
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Nurse Series 0610 1,838 $141,997 $126,250–$165,552
Medical Officer Series 0602 591 $289,091 $260,447–$345,000
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 591 $109,959 $95,859–$125,031
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 510 $64,054 $60,432–$69,706
Social Work Series 0185 472 $115,735 $99,320–$126,258
Nursing Assistant Series 0621 463 $61,870 $60,151–$66,201
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 442 $114,893 $90,219–$151,950
General Health Science Series 0601 428 $111,513 $84,579–$140,641
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 422 $131,790 $111,302–$156,699
Contact Representative Series 0962 414 $73,838 $65,400–$82,275
General Attorney Series 0905 394 $184,317 $156,699–$197,200
Tax Examining Series 0592 389 $66,676 $60,960–$74,297
Psychology Series 0180 357 $144,508 $105,018–$166,229
Information Technology Management Series 2210 314 $140,641 $118,272–$166,197
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 312 $118,272 $101,526–$140,641
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 305 $59,978 $54,858–$70,486
Custodial Working Series 3566 259 $47,563 $44,161–$47,563
Practical Nurse Series 0620 237 $91,779 $87,981–$98,645
Emergency Management Specialist Series 0089 207 $124,567 $111,513–$140,641
Pharmacist Series 0660 179 $166,033 $151,566–$179,126
Human Resources Management Series 0201 164 $131,542 $114,459–$149,106
Park Ranger Series 0025 160 $72,437 $46,137–$95,793
General Business and Industry Series 1101 156 $136,107 $111,513–$161,448
Financial Administration and Program Series 0501 151 $102,712 $88,552–$132,604
Health System Specialist Series 0671 150 $108,134 $87,399–$132,604
Financial Institution Examining Series 0570 148 $170,327 $120,171–$252,815
General Engineering Series 0801 147 $159,726 $136,622–$183,306
Maintenance Mechanic Series 4749 140 $83,125 $74,214–$94,593
Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 135 $66,857 $61,715–$71,923
Food Service Working Series 7408 128 $48,418 $44,161–$53,093

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Pay by agency in Massachusetts

Federal pay by agency in Massachusetts
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs 8,097 $108,351 $71,180–$144,570
Department of the Treasury 1,357 $78,056 $65,400–$105,880
Department of the Interior 898 $90,882 $59,055–$125,031
Social Security Administration 845 $111,513 $93,039–$131,790
Department of Transportation 839 $145,093 $114,893–$175,695
Department of Homeland Security 750 $111,513 $91,765–$136,622
Department of Commerce 643 $131,790 $106,285–$176,572
Department of Health and Human Services 606 $149,080 $121,651–$170,946
Environmental Protection Agency 470 $131,790 $108,134–$156,715
Department of Agriculture 342 $104,754 $76,898–$132,604
Department of Justice 298 $108,232 $88,552–$128,798
Department of Labor 254 $131,293 $111,513–$152,696
General Services Administration 178 $136,622 $114,893–$161,448
Securities and Exchange Commission 164 $256,768 $202,280–$277,311
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 126 $193,530 $128,438–$257,500
Department of Housing and Urban Development 93 $145,842 $132,604–$170,946
Department of State 53 $93,039 $84,579–$128,585
Smithsonian Institution 48 $197,200 $182,162–$209,292
National Archives and Records Administration 44 $110,736 $85,284–$131,790

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +1.9% from $110,410 in September 2025 to $112,523 in September 2026. Headcount went from 17,946 to 16,298 (−9.2%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

States with similar median federal pay

All states ranked →