If you’re wondering which U.S. states have the most federal jobs, the answer is clear: Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia dominate, followed by California, Texas, and Florida. Federal employment is heavily concentrated around the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area because that’s where most federal agencies are headquartered. According to the Office of Personnel Management’s 2024 data, Virginia alone hosts over 150,000 federal employees, Maryland has about 130,000, and D.C. itself has roughly 200,000 (including many working in executive departments).
To make this actionable for job seekers, here’s a breakdown of the top states for federal jobs and their key hiring agencies:
| State | Estimated Federal Employees | Major Agencies Hiring |
|---|
| District of Columbia | 200,000+ | State, Defense, Treasury, Homeland Security |
| Virginia | 150,000+ | Pentagon, CIA, Navy, IRS |
| Maryland | 130,000+ | NIH, FDA, NSA, Social Security |
| California | 140,000+ | VA, USDA, Forest Service, TSA |
| Texas | 120,000+ | VA, DHS, Army, FAA |
| Florida | 90,000+ | DHS, Coast Guard, VA, Navy |
The concentration near D.C. isn’t random. The federal government’s footprint follows policy and budget decisions, so regions with military bases, national labs, or large VA hospitals also see high numbers. For example, California’s federal jobs are spread across numerous defense contractors and regional offices, while Texas benefits from NASA’s Johnson Space Center and multiple military installations.
If you’re targeting a federal career, focus on the Washington, D.C. area for the widest variety of roles, but don’t overlook states like Colorado, Georgia, or Ohio – they have strong federal hubs in defense, health, and energy. The key is to align your skills with the agencies that cluster in each region. For instance, if you’re in IT, D.C. and Virginia are golden; if you’re in healthcare, consider states with large VA networks like Texas or Florida.
