Table of Contents
I often hear people ask who are considered federal employees?. At first, it seems simple anyone who works for the U.S. government, right? But when we start digging deeper, things get more interesting. Some roles are clear-cut, while others sit in a gray area. Let’s walk through the details together, so you have a full picture.
Working for the Nation
We usually think of federal employees as people working to serve the country through government jobs. These employees fill positions across defense, health, transportation, education, and countless other areas. They are part of a massive workforce that supports everything from military readiness to scientific research.
Civilian Roles
I see federal civilian jobs covering a huge range of responsibilities. Some work in administrative offices, making sure policies are followed. Others focus on science, healthcare, construction, or technical services. If you’ve ever interacted with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, or the Department of Transportation, chances are you were helped by a civilian federal worker.
Military Roles
Service members are also part of this group. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians all serve directly under the U.S. government. They are counted as federal employees because their paychecks and benefits come from federal sources, just like civilians working in executive agencies.
Who Isn’t Counted the Same Way
Not everyone connected to the government is considered a federal employee in the same sense. Here’s where the distinction matters:
- Legislative and Judicial Staff: These workers support Congress or the courts. Some people classify them as federal, but they’re separate from the executive branch.
- Postal Service Employees: While the USPS is part of the federal structure, postal workers are often categorized differently.
- Federal Contractors: Companies and individuals who contract with the government are not federal employees. They’re private workers serving under agreements.
- Intelligence Community Staff: Employees in intelligence agencies are often treated separately due to the nature of their work.
Types of Employment Paths
When I look at the different tracks within government jobs, they fall into categories:
- General Schedule (GS): Covers most white-collar jobs.
- Federal Wage System (FWS): Covers blue-collar trades and labor positions.
- Competitive Service: Employees are hired through exams and public competition.
- Excepted Service: Specialized roles, often in intelligence or unique fields.
- Senior Executive Service (SES): High-level leadership just below Cabinet secretaries.
These paths show how structured federal employment is compared to the private sector.
Size and Growth Over Time
They say the federal workforce has always been significant. In 1945, federal workers represented 2.5% of the U.S. population. By comparison, in 2023, they made up only about 0.6%. That’s a big shift.
- 1999: The Postal Service peaked with 909,000 workers.
- 2000: Civilian federal employment (excluding USPS) stood at 1.85 million.
- 2017: The total executive branch civilian workforce was about 1.87 million, with another 2.57 million annuitants.
- 2023: Federal civilian employees passed 2 million, driven by pandemic response and infrastructure hiring.
- 2024: Over 3 million worked for the federal government, including contractors and USPS.
The trend shows slow, steady growth, except for spikes during special events like the census or emergencies.
Where They Work
We often imagine Washington, D.C., when we think of government jobs. But in reality, most employees are spread across the nation.
- 2017: Nearly 99% worked inside the U.S. D.C. itself had about 141,000.
- 2023: 80% of employees were outside the D.C. area. Top states were Virginia, California, Maryland, Texas, and Florida.
- 2024: About 449,000 worked in the D.C. metro, while 30,800 worked overseas.
This spread shows how federal jobs are not just for the capital but touch every state.
Major Agencies and Departments
Some agencies employ far more people than others. For example:
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Largest civilian employer with over 486,000 workers in 2024.
- Department of Defense: Employs hundreds of thousands in both military and civilian roles.
- Social Security Administration: Largest independent agency, with over 59,000 workers.
- Department of Education: One of the smallest, with just over 4,200 workers.
These examples show the variety in size and function across the federal structure.
Kinds of Jobs
I notice federal jobs stretch from medical care to law enforcement to IT.
- Competitive Service: About two-thirds of jobs, filled by open exams.
- Senior Executive Service: About 8,700 top leaders.
- Excepted Service: About one-third of jobs, including intelligence.
Most jobs are white-collar (92%), but there are also welders, custodians, cartographers, and even bakers.
- Medical Fields: Over 364,000 workers, with nursing being the most common job.
- Administrative and Clerical Roles: Over 300,000 employees.
- IT Management: Nearly 100,000 roles.
Who Makes Up the Workforce
The people working for the federal government are diverse but lean older compared to private workers.
- Age: More than 40% are over 50, while fewer than 10% are under 30.
- Race and Ethnicity: About 60% White, 19% Black, 10% Hispanic.
- Gender: Around 54% male, 46% female. Women dominate entry GS roles, while men are more common in higher levels.
- Veterans: 30% of federal employees are veterans, much higher than the general population.
- Education: Nearly a third hold a bachelor’s degree, and about 22% hold advanced degrees.
These demographics show how the federal workforce mirrors but also differs from the national labor pool.
Pay and Job Stability
Compensation is another key piece. The average annual salary is about $106,000 as of 2024.
- Half of workers earn between $50,000 and $110,000.
- A small group earns above $200,000.
- Average job tenure is 11.8 years, compared to less than 4 years in the private sector.
This stability reflects the protections and long-term opportunities federal jobs provide.
Hiring and Attrition
Getting hired takes time. In 2023, the average was about 101 days much longer than private hiring. Still, over 200,000 people were brought in that year, many in entry-level GS roles.
Attrition was about 5.9% in 2023, with most leaving due to retirement. Younger workers under 30 quit more often, while older employees retired after long careers.
Rights and Protections
We sometimes forget that federal employees have strong civil service protections. They can’t be fired without cause after probation. They also have appeal rights for discipline or demotion. These safeguards were built to protect careers from political swings.
Recent debates show how political leaders may try to reshape the workforce. For example, Donald Trump proposed reclassifying jobs for easier removal, while Joe Biden reversed that move. Rules about job security remain a heated issue.
Final Thoughts
We’ve walked through who are considered federal employees, who doesn’t, and why the differences matter. These workers serve in military and civilian roles, across every state and around the world. They bring stability, diversity, and long-term dedication to the U.S. government.
If you’re ever unsure whether a role is considered federal, the simplest check is this: does the U.S. government sign the paycheck and withhold federal taxes? If yes, that’s a federal employee.
FAQs
Who is considered a federal employee?
A federal employee is anyone directly employed by the U.S. government, including civilian agency workers and active-duty military personnel.
Are postal workers federal employees?
Postal Service staff are part of the federal system but are often classified separately from executive branch employees.
Do contractors count as federal employees?
No. Federal contractors work with the government but are not directly employed by it, so they are not federal employees.
References
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). FedScope: Federal Workforce Data. https://www.opm.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment and Wages Data. https://www.bls.gov
- Congressional Research Service. Federal Workforce Statistics. https://crsreports.congress.gov
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Workforce and Hiring Reports. https://www.va.gov
- U.S. Census Bureau. Decennial Census Employment Data. https://www.census.gov
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It does not represent legal, financial, or employment advice. For official guidance, consult federal government sources.
About the Author
Liam Stephens is a government policy writer and workforce analyst with years of experience studying federal employment trends. He specializes in making complex topics simple, helping readers understand the real impact of public service.
