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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 t6y3KIoFu324kX8j/VYa2A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000918972-09-000009.txt : 20091209
<SEC-HEADER>0000918972-09-000009.hdr.sgml : 20091209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091209164040
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000918972-09-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091209

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DONAHUE J CHRISTOPHER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000918972
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14818
		FILM NUMBER:		091231326

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5800 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15237-7000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FEDERATED INVESTORS INC /PA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001056288
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INVESTMENT ADVICE [6282]
		IRS NUMBER:				251111467
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FEDERATED INVESTORS TOWER
		STREET 2:		5800 CORPORATE DR
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15222
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4122888141

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FEDERATED INVESTORS TOWER
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15222
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001056288</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FEDERATED INVESTORS INC /PA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000918972</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DONAHUE J CHRISTOPHER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FEDERATED INVESTORS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1001 LIBERTY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15222-3779</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3846</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.1133</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38729</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held indirectly by Bay Road Partners</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the sale of shares by partnerhips in which the reporting person has an indirect interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $25.00 to $25.43, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to Federated Investors, Inc., any security holder of Federated Investors, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">In addition to the holdings set forth in Table I:

3,492,335 shares are held directly (this includes 136,524 shares of Federated Investors, Inc. Class B Common Stock held in Federated's Profit Sharing/401(k) Plan);

65,686 shares are held indirectly by spouse;

592,766 shares are held indirectly by Power of Attorney;

82 shares are held indirectly by AWOL, Inc.;

298,559 shares are held indirectly by the Beechwood Company, L.P.; and

82,755 shares are held indirectly by Comax Partners Limited Partnership.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The Power of Attorney dated July 15, 2009 is incorporated by reference.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gail C. Jones (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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