My ex-FIL was an agent with ATF, alcohol division. He told me working for the government paid less that it would in private enterprise, but the job security compensated for it. That should tell you how long ago THAT was. LOL Now they have security AND high pay. And the rest of us pay for it.
I used to work for a public employee union in California. They had janitors making more than professionals in the private sector. Better healthcare and retired as millionaires.