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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

March 2025 workforce snapshot. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had 12,267 employees with an average salary of $130,666. It sits under the Department of Commerce.
12,267 employees
$130,666 average pay
$1,602,879,822 estimated total salary expense
Meteorology largest occupation in the agency

What this page helps you check

Use this page when you want a quick feel for the size of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where its workforce is concentrated, and which occupations account for the largest share of employees.

Parent organization

This agency sits under the Department of Commerce.

Largest occupations in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

These occupation series account for the biggest share of employees reported under National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Occupation Employees Average pay Share of agency
Meteorology 2,338 $121,284 19.1%
Information Technology Management 1,018 $143,913 8.3%
General Physical Science 1,015 $154,066 8.3%
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences 844 $128,400 6.9%
Management and Program Analysis 770 $146,346 6.3%
Fish Biology 745 $131,588 6.1%
Electronics Technical 382 $95,056 3.1%
Miscellaneous Administration and Program 358 $137,239 2.9%
Hydrology 237 $132,952 1.9%
Contracting 219 $131,416 1.8%
Budget Analysis 204 $149,162 1.7%
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant 186 $69,362 1.5%
General Engineering 164 $160,441 1.3%
Oceanography 141 $152,832 1.1%
Meteorological Technician 133 $107,022 1.1%
General Attorney 119 $183,686 1.0%
Cartography 119 $136,292 1.0%
General Business and Industry 114 $129,360 0.9%
Financial Administration and Program 111 $130,711 0.9%
Human Resources Management 93 $156,472 0.8%

Where National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees are based

This list shows the biggest duty-station states reported for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the latest OPM summary.

State Employees Average pay
Maryland 3,276 $152,619
Washington 859 $134,665
Florida 711 $124,791
California 670 $128,895
Alaska 478 $123,783
Massachusetts 477 $129,558
Colorado 443 $141,111
Virginia 438 $108,679
Hawaii 390 $123,747
Texas 324 $120,434

Agency totals and duty-location summaries come from the latest OPM FedScope Employment Summary Data (March 2025).