How many civilian federal government jobs are located in Iowa?
Updates published monthly
About 18,500, as of March 2025. Federal jobs include work in a wide range of occupations, including roles as janitors, scientists, accountants, postal workers, elected officials, and many more. While enlisted troops are considered to be employed by the government, they are not considered civilians, and thus are not included in this figure. Federal jobs represent 1.2% of all nonfarm jobs in the area. That’s about one in every 90. The state accounts for 0.62% of the 3 million federal jobs nationwide.
18.5K
jobs in the federal government (March 2025)
1.2%
federal government share of all nonfarm jobs (March 2025)
In March 2025, there were 18,500 federal jobs in Iowa, 1.1% from the previous year. In May 2010, there were 22,300 federal jobs in the state, a recent high. Federal employment hit a low in Iowa in January 2019 at 17,200.
As of March 2025, there were 18.5 thousand federal government jobs in Iowa.
Civilian federal government employees, January 2006 to March 2025
In March 2025, 1.2% of nonfarm jobs in Iowa were in the federal government. The state’s share of federal employment peaked in May 2010 at 1.5%. It hit a low in January 2019 at 1.1% of all employment.
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As of March 2025, 1.2% of jobs in the US were in the federal government.
Civilian federal government share of nonfarm employment, January 1939 to March 2025
Based on the latest data from the Office of Personnel Management as of September 2024, there were 9,900 people in Iowa working in the executive branch of the federal government. This is primarily limited to those working in the executive branch and excludes some employees, including postal workers and enlisted military. It includes full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers. The Department of Veterans Affairs accounted for 47.7% of the total, more than any other cabinet department or independent agency. In second, the Department of Agriculture accounted for 20.4% of the state’s federal employees. The Department of Defense was third accounting for 16.2%.
In September 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs accounted for more federal workers in Iowa than any other agency.
Civilian federal personnel, primarily in executive branch, as of September 2024
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Methodology
USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.
The analysis was generated with the help of AI and reviewed by USAFacts for accuracy.
Page sources
USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.
Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Current Employment Statistics
