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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000918972-08-000003.txt : 20080130
<SEC-HEADER>0000918972-08-000003.hdr.sgml : 20080130
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080130175050
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000918972-08-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080128
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080130
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080130

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 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:		08562079

	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>
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<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2008-01-28</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>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>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
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                <value>2008-01-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.295</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
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            </transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>115395</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held indirectly by Comax Partners Limited Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held indirectly by Comax Partners Limited Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held indirectly by Comax Partners Limited Partnership</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>38</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>302405</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held indirectly by Beechwood Company L.P.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3205247</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Federated Investors, Inc. Shares reported represent Mr. Donahue's proportional beneficial interest in the Shares held by Comax Partners Limited Partnership.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition to holdings set forth in Table I:

77,676 shares are held indirectly by spouse;

978,346 shares are held indirectly by children; and

639,026 shares are held indirectly by power of attorney.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 136,524 shares are FII Class B Common Stock held in Federated's Profit Sharing/401 (k) plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Beechwood Company L.P. transferred a total of 500 Shares of Class B Common Stock to one of its employees as deferred compensation.  The transfer reported by Mr. Donahue represents his proportional beneficial interest in the Federated Investors, Inc. Shares transferred by Beechwood Company L.P. to the Beechwood Company L.P. employee.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">On January 29, 2008, Mr. and Mrs. Donahue transferred 500,000 Shares of Class B Common Stock to Tight Lines Capital Partners LLC in exchange for membership interests in Tight Lines Capital Partners LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The Power of Attorney filed July 25, 2006 is incorporated by reference.

This Form represents part 3 of 3.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gail C. Jones  (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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