PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in Washington

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in Washington earned a median of $113,878 in September 2026, 4% above the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #6 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$113,878
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$80,662–$145,268
25th–75th percentile
Employees
23,114
with published duty station
Rank
#6
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Washington
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 Washington

The 30 largest occupations in Washington with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (122 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in Washington
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Nurse Series 0610 1,998 $135,457 $119,462–$151,452
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 962 $61,425 $55,217–$66,238
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 793 $102,873 $83,251–$130,786
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 641 $130,572 $110,664–$148,282
Veterans Claims Examining Series 0996 629 $100,726 $86,578–$110,664
Medical Officer Series 0602 574 $301,932 $276,442–$337,555
Information Technology Management Series 2210 569 $131,594 $111,778–$149,834
Air Traffic Control Series 2152 554 $174,976 $119,060–$195,535
Forestry Technician Series 0462 534 $66,742 $45,785–$80,166
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 519 $106,323 $92,331–$117,371
Social Work Series 0185 489 $113,774 $96,267–$127,104
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Series 0401 446 $110,836 $95,210–$130,786
Wildland Fire Management Series 0456 407 $57,670 $48,424–$82,546
Contact Representative Series 0962 374 $71,182 $66,833–$81,648
Electrical Engineering Series 0850 348 $142,452 $130,328–$157,607
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 336 $60,908 $55,506–$67,010
General Attorney Series 0905 324 $169,644 $146,080–$193,999
Contracting Series 1102 313 $122,330 $106,088–$139,569
Maintenance Mechanic Series 4749 292 $68,829 $60,935–$81,659
General Business and Industry Series 1101 291 $126,153 $102,158–$143,913
General Health Science Series 0601 288 $110,664 $97,545–$127,432
Fish Biology Series 0482 278 $123,336 $96,561–$147,545
Pharmacist Series 0660 271 $172,395 $153,312–$181,973
High Voltage Electrician Series 2810 257 $151,120 $151,120–$157,255
Emergency Management Specialist Series 0089 254 $123,618 $107,310–$139,569
Human Resources Management Series 0201 253 $120,725 $103,956–$141,386
Biological Science Technician Series 0404 246 $56,715 $49,950–$66,168
Civil Engineering Series 0810 236 $131,594 $115,733–$147,030
Practical Nurse Series 0620 226 $84,178 $79,748–$86,393
Psychology Series 0180 215 $143,557 $127,841–$158,112

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

Pay by agency in Washington

Federal pay by agency in Washington
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs 9,137 $104,922 $70,716–$136,025
Department of the Interior 2,390 $89,618 $62,746–$122,940
Department of Agriculture 2,360 $82,576 $65,838–$106,437
Department of Energy 2,040 $142,549 $124,894–$157,960
Department of Transportation 1,915 $141,367 $113,753–$177,776
Department of Commerce 960 $130,786 $110,029–$179,069
Social Security Administration 944 $102,484 $81,648–$126,473
Department of Homeland Security 753 $123,618 $103,956–$143,557
Department of Health and Human Services 712 $127,606 $95,973–$151,533
Department of the Treasury 446 $98,566 $76,312–$150,792
Environmental Protection Agency 387 $139,569 $117,371–$155,521
General Services Administration 231 $130,786 $110,664–$147,845
Department of Justice 172 $109,881 $92,503–$149,539
Department of Labor 155 $130,786 $117,371–$147,545
Department of State 100 $92,331 $83,935–$121,624
Department of Housing and Urban Development 84 $143,557 $119,630–$160,218
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 45 $138,567 $118,870–$188,345
Small Business Administration 40 $119,208 $86,734–$146,080

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

Change since September 2025

The median moved +2.2% from $111,406 in September 2025 to $113,878 in September 2026. Headcount went from 25,563 to 23,114 (−9.6%). 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 →