In the news:
Originally published January 30, 2012 at 8:00 PM | Page modified January 30, 2012 at 8:51 PM
Many federal workers earn more than private-sector employees
The average federal worker earns about 2 percent more than a private-sector worker in a comparable profession, though the government's generous...
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The average federal worker earns about 2 percent more than a private-sector worker in a comparable profession, though the government's generous pension system means that overall compensation is significantly higher, a government study released Monday said.
Once pension and health benefits are factored in, the average federal worker reaps 16 percent more in total compensation than do private-sector workers.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) study said federal workers in lower-level jobs make more than private-sector workers but that those with advanced degrees earn more in the private sector. Federal workers with a high-school education or less earn about $4 more an hour than private-sector employees in similar jobs.
The CBO study comes as House GOP leaders have scheduled a vote this week to extend the current pay freeze for federal workers an additional year and want to make federal employees contribute more for their pensions.
The average benefits package for federal workers, including health insurance and a defined-benefit pension plan, costs the government about 48 percent more than for private-sector workers in comparable jobs.
The federal government employs about 2.3 million civilian workers, or about 1.7 percent of the U.S. workforce. Total compensation for civilian federal workers costs roughly $200 billion a year. Civilian worker pay has been frozen for the past two years in response to exploding budget deficits.
