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278,000 Former Feds Are Job Hunting: Where They're Landing

The largest federal layoff in history left 278,000 people job hunting. Here's where they're finding work, by job series and clearance level.

By FedTools Team8 min read

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278,000 Former Feds Are Job Hunting: Where They're Landing

Last Updated: April 19, 2026

Between January 2025 and December 2025, approximately 278,000 federal workers left government employment. Some were RIF'd. Some took the Deferred Resignation Program. Some just left because the environment became untenable.

A year later, many are still looking. The DC metro area lost 56,000 jobs, 96% of which were federal. The national average job search takes 22.9 weeks. For former feds, especially mid-career generalists who haven't updated a resume in 15 years, it takes longer.

But the picture is not all bleak. Cleared professionals are landing fast. Regulatory experts from FDA, CDC, and NIH are in demand. State and local governments are actively recruiting former feds. The question is not whether former federal employees can find work. It's which ones, and how long it takes.

Key Takeaways

  • 278,000 federal workers left government in 2025, the largest reduction in modern history
  • DC metro lost 56,000 jobs, with unemployment rising 3.5x the national rate
  • Security clearance holders command 20-40% salary premiums (TS/SCI average $149,398 in DC)
  • CivicMatch has placed 187 former feds in state/local government, with 9,000+ registered
  • Federal employees above GS-12 in DC often see flat or declining cash in the private sector
  • Average job search: 22.9 weeks nationally. Feds often take longer.

The salary reality, by job series

This is the table that matters most. It compares the top 10 federal job series against their private-sector equivalents.

Series Federal Title DC Adjusted (GS-12 Step 5) Private Sector Equivalent Private Median
0301 Misc. Admin/Program ~$110K-$138K Operations/Program Manager $85K-$120K
0343 Management Analysis ~$125K-$163K Business/Policy Analyst $90K-$148K
2210 IT Management ~$120K-$163K IT Manager/Cybersecurity $115K-$185K
1102 Contracting ~$120K-$163K Procurement Manager $95K-$155K
0510 Accounting ~$100K-$150K CPA/Controller $66K-$126K
0905 Attorney ~$140K-$197K Regulatory Counsel $120K-$300K+
1811 Criminal Investigation ~$130K-$170K (LEAP) Corporate Investigator $59K-$90K
0201 HR Management ~$95K-$138K HR Business Partner $78K-$140K
0560 Budget Analysis ~$100K-$163K FP&A Manager $90K-$160K
0830 Mechanical Engineering ~$120K-$163K Mechanical Engineer $88K-$140K

Two job series consistently earn more in the private sector: IT (2210) and attorneys (0905). One takes a sharp pay cut: criminal investigators (1811) lose the 25% LEAP premium that has no private-sector equivalent.

The hidden cost of leaving that most people miss: a GS-14 at $163K with FERS pension, TSP match, and FEHB actually out-earns a $185K private-sector salary when the pension's net present value ($1M+ over 25 years) is included. Smart job changers negotiate $20K to $40K above the "equivalent" to compensate.

Where former feds are actually going

Six sectors are absorbing displaced federal workers, ranked by speed of placement.

State and local government is the fastest on-ramp. CivicMatch, run by Work for America, has placed 187 former feds in state and local government roles, with 9,000+ registered on the platform. About 40% landed in HR or operations roles. One-third relocated to a different state to find a position. Pennsylvania and Maine are actively recruiting.

Defense and intelligence contracting pays the best for clearance holders. TS/SCI holders in DC cybersecurity averaged $149,398 in 2025. The "boomerang" pattern is real: fired federal employees are being hired back to their original agencies through contractors like Booz Allen, SAIC, and Leidos. The complication: DOGE is simultaneously canceling consulting contracts. Deloitte lost 129 federal contracts worth $372 million.

Pharma and biotech are absorbing FDA, NIH, and CDC alumni. Pfizer hired the former FDA CDER director. Former FDA medical officers can earn $180K to $300K+ in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs. This path requires domain-specific expertise, not available to generalist health policy staff.

Consulting firms are mixed. Federal practices at the Big Four are contracting. Non-federal practices (risk, compliance, tech advisory) are absorbing feds with strong analytical backgrounds. A GS-0343 management analyst with Tableau and Power BI skills transitions more easily than one with only PowerPoint.

Nonprofits and think tanks offer mission alignment at 20 to 40% pay cuts. Georgetown Law offered 30% LLM tuition discounts for former federal attorneys, and roughly 25 enrolled.

Healthcare systems need former VA and DoD clinical staff. Administrative and policy roles pay below federal equivalents in most markets.

The clearance premium

If you hold an active security clearance, your job search is a different conversation.

Clearance Level Salary Premium vs. Non-Cleared National Average (2025)
Secret +10-20% ~$95,000
TS/SCI +20-40% $119,131
TS/SCI (DC cybersecurity) +30-50% $149,398
TS/SCI + Full Scope Poly +$20K-$50K above TS/SCI $170,000+

Cleared professionals are the strongest exception to the "feds take a pay cut" narrative. A GS-12 IT specialist with TS/SCI who leaves federal service at $120K locality-adjusted can realistically land a $140K to $160K contractor role in the same specialty.

The catch: clearances expire if not used. If you've been separated for more than 24 months without accessing classified systems, your clearance lapses. The clock is ticking for the 278,000 who left in 2025.

The DC math

The DC metro region absorbed a disproportionate share of the damage.

  • 56,000 jobs lost in 12 months, 96% federal (Brookings)
  • Total employment fell 1.7%, the worst of any major U.S. metro
  • Private sector employment also contracted 0.28% (vs. +0.3% nationally)
  • Unemployment rose 1.3 percentage points, 3.5x the national rate
  • DC's CFO projects a $1 billion revenue shortfall through FY2028

For job seekers in DC, these numbers mean one thing: there are 56,000 other people with the same resume competing for the same shrinking pool of government-adjacent positions. The feds who relocated (one-third of CivicMatch placements) found work faster than those who stayed.

What to do right now

Rewrite your resume for the private sector. Federal resumes run 5 to 10 pages. Private-sector resumes should be 1 to 2 pages. Strip the KSA language and replace it with outcomes and metrics. "Managed a $12M acquisition program" beats "Responsible for the management and oversight of acquisition activities."

Update your LinkedIn immediately. Change your headline from your old federal title to what you do: "IT Security Professional, TS/SCI" or "Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Former FDA." A professional headshot matters more than you think. Use AI Headshots to get a LinkedIn-ready photo in 60 seconds from your phone.

Check ICTAP eligibility. If you were RIF'd, you have priority placement rights for federal positions in your commuting area for one year. Apply through USAJOBS and ensure you meet the "well-qualified" threshold (score of 85+).

Run your severance and pension numbers. Use the Severance Pay Calculator to know your payout. Use the GS Pay Calculator to compare your federal salary against private-sector offers, including locality adjustments. The FERS Retirement Calculator shows what your pension is worth if you're weighing whether to stay versus leave.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take former feds to find new jobs?

The national average is 22.9 weeks (about 5.3 months). For former feds it skews longer, especially for mid-career generalists and those who haven't job-searched in over a decade. Clearance holders typically land in 8 to 16 weeks. Generalists without clearances or specialized skills can take 9 to 18 months.

Will I take a pay cut?

Depends on your grade, location, and specialty. IT specialists and attorneys often earn more. Criminal investigators (1811) almost always take a sharp cut without LEAP. GS-12+ employees in DC who account for FERS pension value need to negotiate $20K to $40K higher in private sector to break even.

How much more do clearance holders earn?

Secret: +10-20%. TS/SCI: +20-40%. TS/SCI with poly: +$20K-$50K on top. DC TS/SCI cybersecurity averages $149,398.

Can I go back to a federal job?

Yes. ICTAP provides priority placement for one year in your commuting area. Some separated feds are being rehired as contractors at their former agencies.

Should I relocate?

The data says yes, if you can. One-third of CivicMatch placements relocated to a different state. DC's job market is oversaturated with 56,000 displaced feds. States like Pennsylvania, Maine, and Mountain West metros are actively recruiting.

Sources

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