Mar 10, 2025 - News
Mapped: Federal workers' wages
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Colorado's federal workers are among the highest-paid in the U.S.
Why it matters: The Trump administration's push to shrink the federal workforce — which has slowed, but not stopped— hit particularly hard in places with the most federal workers, and where those workers take home the biggest paychecks.
By the numbers: Federal workers in the Centennial State earn an average annual wage of nearly $101,000, the fifth-highest in the nation.
- Washington, D.C., leads at $136,000 per worker, followed by Maryland ($126,000), Virginia ($111,000) and California ($101,000).
Caveat: These raw figures don't account for cost-of-living differences, meaning a six-figure salary stretches further here than in California or D.C.
What's next: The legal battle over federal downsizing is far from over.
- Multiple lawsuits tied to President Trump and Elon Musk's efforts to cut government jobs are winding through the courts.
- In February, Colorado and other states challenged the so-called "Fork in the Road" directive, which offered federal workers eight months of pay in exchange for their resignations.