-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001061432-09-000001.txt : 20090310
<SEC-HEADER>0001061432-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090310164846
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001061432-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090306
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCGONIGLE JOHN W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001061432

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14818
		FILM NUMBER:		09670053

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FEDERATED INVESTORS TOWER
		STREET 2:		1001 LIBERTY AVENUE
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15222-3779

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>2009-03-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001061432</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCGONIGLE JOHN W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>FEDERATED INVESTORS TOWER</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>Vice Chairman, Secretary, EVP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>706558</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3925324</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held indirectly by Fairview Partners, L.P.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21709</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21709</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported securities are held by Fairview Partners, a limited partnership of which 713 Investment Corp is the sole general partner.  Mr. McGonigle and his wife are shareholders and directors of 713 Investment Corp.  On March 6, 2009, the reporting person sold an 18% interest in Fairview Partners to trusts established for the benefit of the reporting person's children and grandchildren.  The interests were sold in exchange for notes, equal to the value of the 18% partnership interest and was done for family wealth transfer purposes.  The FII Class B Common Stock held by Fairview Partners were valued at $16.80 per share on the date of the transaction.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of the FII Class B Common Stock held by Fairview Partners except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition to the holdings set forth in Table I:

59,708 shares are held indirectly by 713 Investment Partners, L.P.; and

19,453 shares are held indirectly by Grantor Trusts.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The acquired shares of Class B Common Stock were awarded to Mr. McGonigle by Federated Investors, Inc. as part of an incentive plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

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

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gail C. Jones (Attorney-in-Fact)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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