When you think about the federal government, Washington, D.C. likely comes to mind—it’s where the White House, Capitol Hill, and many agency headquarters are located. However, this view doesn’t tell the full story of the U.S. federal workforce. According to a recent study by the Partnership for Public Service, over 80% of the federal workforce is based outside the D.C. metro area, with employees spread across all 50 states, U.S. territories, and even around the world. So, what does this mean for federal employees and the larger structure of government?
The Big Picture: The Federal Workforce’s Geographic Distribution
The federal workforce is much more decentralized than many realize. Of the approximately 2 million federal career civil servants, just 19.8% are based in the D.C. area, encompassing Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. In contrast, a staggering 80.2% of federal employees work outside this area. That means the vast majority of government employees are in every state and territory across the country, performing essential functions from managing veterans’ health care to responding to natural disasters.
As the Partnership for Public Service points out, this geographically dispersed workforce plays a critical role in meeting the government’s day-to-day needs. They care for veterans, inspect roads, protect food safety, support farmers, and much more. And though D.C. is often seen as the central hub of the federal government, it’s clear that employees working outside the capital are integral to the execution of the government’s mission.
The Breakdown: Top States and Key Agencies
The geographic diversity of the federal workforce is reflected in the distribution of employees across the country. The largest federal employee populations are found in states like California (6.4%), Texas (5.6%), Florida (4.2%), and Georgia (3.5%). The Department of Veterans Affairs and components of the Department of Defense have significant presences in these states, as military installations and VA facilities are scattered across the U.S.
Interestingly, some states are home to federal agencies with unique missions. For example, NASA has a large footprint in Alabama, due to the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. In New Mexico, the Department of Health and Human Services has a significant presence, owing to its work with the state’s large Native American population.
Trends Over Time: A Growing Workforce Outside D.C.
The percentage of federal employees working outside the D.C. metro area has remained remarkably consistent over the years, though it has seen a slight increase since 2010. Back in September 2010, 21.2% of the workforce was located in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, while 78.8% worked elsewhere. By 2023, that number had grown marginally, with 80% of the federal workforce located outside the D.C. area.
The federal workforce outside of D.C. has grown at a faster pace than the workforce in the capital. While the total federal workforce has grown by about 0.8% per year, employees outside of D.C. have seen an annual growth rate of 1%. This growth is largely driven by the need for personnel in areas related to veterans’ care, defense, and other critical services.
Diversity in Occupations: Beyond the Desk Jobs
While most people might think of office jobs when they envision federal employees, the workforce outside the D.C. area spans a wide range of occupations. The federal government is one of the largest employers of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workers and healthcare professionals. STEM employees make up 14.8% of the workforce outside the D.C. area, while healthcare employees account for 10.7%—many of them serving in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals and clinics.
Additionally, blue-collar workers also play a major role in the federal workforce, especially outside D.C. These workers include custodians, electricians, aircraft mechanics, and food service workers. In fact, 87.1% of blue-collar federal employees work outside the D.C. area. States like Hawaii, Maine, and Washington have particularly high percentages of federal workers in these fields.
A More Experienced Workforce?
The age and educational breakdown of the federal workforce outside D.C. is similar to that of the overall workforce, with a notable difference in the age distribution. Roughly 7.9% of federal workers outside the D.C. area are under the age of 30, which is higher than the D.C. area workforce but still lower than the broader U.S. labor force, where almost 20% are in this age group.
In terms of education, federal employees outside the D.C. area are quite qualified, with around 23.6% holding a post-graduate education and 25% holding a bachelor’s degree. A significant portion, around 25%, also have a high school diploma or some college education.
The Federal Hiring Trend: More Hires, Higher Attrition
In fiscal year 2023, over 168,000 new federal employees were hired outside the D.C. area, representing 83% of all new hires. However, the voluntary attrition rate for employees outside the D.C. area was slightly higher at 6.2%, compared to 4.9% for D.C.-based employees. This attrition is still somewhat higher than the overall federal workforce, which had an attrition rate of 5.9% in 2023.
The Federal Workforce Beyond D.C. Is Critical
The federal workforce outside the D.C. area is a vital part of the U.S. government and its ability to serve the American public. While the D.C. area remains a political and administrative hub, the contributions of employees across the country—from veterans’ care to STEM research to national security—are crucial to the functioning of the federal government. As the Partnership for Public Service study shows, the vast majority of the federal workforce resides outside the capital, proving that when we think of the federal government, we should think far beyond the Beltway.
This growing, diverse, and vital workforce is not only an asset to the government but also to the local communities where they live and work. Their dedication to public service is integral to maintaining the services and protections that keep the U.S. running smoothly—whether they’re located in the heart of Washington, D.C., or working in a rural town in the Midwest.
