-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 B9umsnE037ir62DFYdCETP+rb5UAUjsM41wnmoPrOVCyOnQwa3Zhpb0rUHBsHItV
 HXgfZJalpvc02Q4Z4TrVrg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000918971-08-000003.txt : 20081217
<SEC-HEADER>0000918971-08-000003.hdr.sgml : 20081217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081217164802
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000918971-08-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081217

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DONAHUE JOHN F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000918971
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14818
		FILM NUMBER:		081255553

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		1-800-341-7400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5800 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15237-7000
</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>2008-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000918971</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DONAHUE JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FEDERATED INVESTORS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FEDERATED INVESTORS TOWER</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>Chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>509196</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>553474</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held Indirectly by Bay Road Partners</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported securities are held by Bay Road Partners, a limited partnership of which AWOL, Inc. is the sole general partner controlled by the reporting person.  On December 15, 2008, the reporting preson sold a 92% interest in Bay Road Partners for notes, equal to the value of the 92% Bay Road Partners partnership interest.  The FII Class B Common Stock shares held by Bay Road Partners were valued at $18.90 per share on the date of the transaction.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the FII Class B Common Stock held by Bay Road Partners except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition to the holdings set forth in Table I:

334,097 shares are held directly;

523,000 shares are held indirectly by Richmond Farm, L.P.;

11,638 shares are held indirectly by AWOL, Inc.;

38,821 shares are held indirectly by Comax Land Company of Florida;

5,819 shares are held indirectly by John F. Donahue Revocable Trust;

5,819 shares are held indirectly by Rhodora J. Donahue Revocable Trust; and

1,035,880 shares are held indirectly by John F. Donahue and Rhodora J. Donahue Joint Revocable Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The Power of Attorney file July 26, 2006 is incorporated by reference.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gail C. Jones (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----