Federal Manager's Daily Report

OPM has reported that the number of SES positions in agencies has dropped by about 100 each of the last two years from just over 8,000 in 2011-2012 to just over 7,900 in 2013 and 7,800 in 2014.

The portion of the SES consisting of career employees bore the brunt of that reduction while the number of political appointees rose slightly to 682. Several other smaller categories such as limited time appointments held about steady, making up around 100 total.

The average age of the SES has crept up by about a month per year over the last five years, now standing at 54.3, while the percentage of women in the SES cadre rose from about 31 to 34 percent. The percentage of those identifying themselves as white with no minority heritage fell from 82 to 79 percent.

The average 2014 salary was $168,214, up less than $800 over 2010.

Of those separated from service, by far the most common reason was retirement, 632, followed by voluntary resignation, 241. Miscellaneous reasons including death accounted for another 15, while in 2014 only two were fired.