Posted on 02/03/2010 7:26:09 AM PST by Poundstone
Excerpt: The budget answers critics, including Scott Brown, the newly elected Republican senator from Massachusetts, who say federal civilians earn much more than private-sector workers. There's a reason for that. Federal workers are better educated.
"The Federal Government hires lawyers to tackle corruption, security professionals to monitor our borders, doctors to care for our injured veterans, and world-class scientists to combat deadly diseases such as cancer," the budget says. "Because of these vital needs, the Federal Government hires a relatively highly educated workforce, resulting in higher average pay."
Consider these stats: Twenty percent of federal workers have a master's, professional or doctorate degree, compared with 13 percent in the private sector. Fifty-one percent of federal employees have a college degree of some sort, but only 35 percent do in the private sector.
Frankie and Flo may not be smarter than other folks, but they do have more schooling, and they get paid accordingly. They are also substantially older, and that contributes to higher pay -- 46 percent of federal employees are 50 or older, compared with 31 percent of private-sector workers.
Although the section doesn't say so, comparing overall federal and private-sector pay is misleading in another way, because Uncle Sam doesn't employ many people at the bottom of the wage scale the way industry does.
Job-for-job comparisons tell a completely different story. In fact, government figures indicate that federal employees are underpaid by 26 percent compared with their counterparts in similar position in the business world.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I wonder how that will work. Under current law Student loans must be paid back in 10 years. So with the Obama plan, if you work in public sector are principal and interest payments suspended?
The taxpayers get screwed twice, once for paying the guy to work in the public sector, and again to pay for his education. If someone were planning to work in public sector they would maximize their student loans not minimize them like sane people would.
Well done!
WOW!! What a deal! I can't wait to inform my husband who has worked for the Supreme Courts for 29 years that he can quit now on 90% salary with full medical benefits.
Silly man, he's thinking he has to work a full 30 to qualify for 60% pay and then pay both his share and the gov't share of his medical insurance - which effectively cuts his salary into less than half.
Therefore, he cannot afford to retire
But under the gov't plan you outlined he can!
So, what say you post the details of where he needs to go to access this terrific plan you outlined.
Or, you could just admit you repeated a rumour about something you know nothing about. ....just sayin'
Why is it a high percentage of contractors are retired Fed Employee’s?
Plenty of fat in the "social" category in all kinds of federal programs.
I guess I should’nt expect you to read thru the entire thread. So skip to post 240.
A GS-13 (step 8 or so) will get you around $110K. Not bad for a HS diploma and limited skills (as in the specific example I mentioned)
Uhm.... not so much. Check the link. A 13-8 makes about $88k. While not bad - it's not $110k.
Do the math ~
I agree, and I’m not complaining; I love my federal job and the Thrift Savings Plan.
I’m in the “L” fund 100%, I’m 40 yrs old, so I know that it will automatically start converting to cash as I age. . .
The term "Public Servant" was coined when they actually were. When I was a young man, it was common knowledge, and a fact, that Government employees were NEVER paid higher than their private sector counterparts. You must be a youngster, liberal or in dire need of reading.
Nam Vet
I am referring to professional positions such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, managers, and etc. That said, I’ve forgotten more about civil service than you’ll ever know. The main reason I can say that, besides about decade longer DOD service time than you have spent in the private sector, is that government appears to be the next and final bubble to burst.
There are a few exceptions and actually many exceptions to be more accurate and less critical. Unfortunately being the best and brightest has nothing to do with who is hired, promoted or keeps their job in today's civil service. So there is obviously something special about you as it is nearly impossible to hire someone off the street unless they have some special physical characteristic or affiliation that makes them more equal than someone with just a high IQ or great work ethic. In fact, if you happen to be in a productive department then I would bet contractor personnel are doing most of the work!
After government collapses there will be a need for a talented few to put the pieces back together. Maybe that will be you but I'm afraid you've missed the hayday when you could have made a difference. Good luck with your new job position and I truly hope you don’t regret the move.
The problem I have with government workers is that historically civil servants accepted lower salaries in exchange for job security and good pensions. Today however, government workers get all three- high wage, job security and pensions- relative to their private sector counterparts. They write themselves fat paychecks at the expense to our tax dollars while may of their jobs are a drag on the productivity of the nation.
Also this article is udder and complete BS because government workers make more than private sector WHEN EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE ARE FACTORED!!! The whole premise of the article fails to take that into account and isn’t worth the electrons used to print it on our screens.
Interesting how many “conservatives” turn out to be closet “moderates” or liberals. All you need to do is to criticize or threaten the existence of the particular program or “employment opportunity” the left has bought them off with. This is just how Congress works - conservatives constantly get sold out because of the unprincipled “conservatives” who want to hang on to their bit of unconstitutional or wasteful government spending.
“I have an inkpen around here Franklin Roosevelt used to sign the first, last and only federal employee pay raise he ever approved.”
You own it?
Yes, I own it. No doubt some museum would like to have it.
Government lawyers never make the big bucks.
Nope! I self-medicate daily with 2 pots of coffee and a pack of Lucky Strikes.
It is 110K with the 24% increase from locality pay in DC.
As the poster was referring to folks in the Washington, DC area, one should look at the GS scale with the Washington, DC region adjustment.
In the Washington, DC region, a GS-13, step 8 gets $109,807 for 2010.
As well, the only place in the United States where a GS-13, step 8 makes less than $100,914 is Alaska, since that is the only region with a “locality pay” adjustmment under 14.16%.
Look a little further down at your own link for the locality pay differentials.
sitetest
This guy that posted this crap....Just remember his moniker.
No doubt he's another graduate of the Tokyo Rose school of propaganda. In the days of TV only, he might have gotten away with it.
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