Government Workers Make 45 Percent More Than Private Sector Employees

CDS ^ | 2/9/2010 | Chris Banescu

[ezfindit]

A new report from the Bureaus of Labor Statistics that was released today, shows that almost 15 million Americans are currently out of work and unable to find jobs. Worse still, those with jobs have not seen their wages increase much in the last 10 years. However, government workers are enjoying a boom in hiring and generous salary increases thanks in large part to very cushy pensions and other benefits.

The pay differential between public sector employees and the private sector shows a troubling trend. Government workers have benefited greatly, even during the severe recession, and their wages now outpace the employee compensation in private industry. According to recent research done by Mark J. Perry, professor of finance and economics at the School of Management of the University of Michigan government employees make on average 45% more than private sector employees.

[ezfindit]

Our public “service” employees are like the old USSR where commie party bureaucrats lived like kings while the general public had to share apartments with one or two other families.

Yes, that is exactly how they live and behave. They are a priviledged caste unto themselves with superior rights and benefits, supported by our hard work and sweat.

[Getsmart64]

I’m a civil service employee. My counterparts in the private sector doing a similar job makes, on average, 30% more a year. Some of you guys need to get a grip. You don’t get rich working for the government.

[bayliving]

I was working while also having over 8 major orthopedic surgeries, neuro surgery and cancer surgery

Ok, ok, you win! Sheesh!

I hope you are doing better now.

Looks like I don't want to trade after all.... 8^P

How much did you say you made for all of your trouble?

[ezfindit]

You don’t get rich working for the government.

Tell that to the 1,690 TSA workers making over $170,000/year. Give me a break!

[Dave W]

You are the only one. All my government jobbed friends make more than I do. It disgusts me that police, firefighters, yawning secretaries make large salaries and ridiculous pensions. It is bankrupting us.

There is so much evidence that the public sector is overpaid, it really is no longer debatable.

[Cyber Ninja]

Percentages can mislead, however the Gov is filled
with too many gold bricks. One example won't win
the case, but I know there are way too many like
this:

After two years at the Pentagon, (Linda) Tripp
received favorable job evaluations that helped
boost her salary to $88,000.

She could type 30 words per minute and run a xerox,
$88K is way too much money.

[unique]

True, but the retirement benefits far exceed private industry with 401K’s taking over versus annuities.

[Getsmart64]

Tell that to the 1,690 TSA workers making over $170,000/year. Give me a break!

You have proof of that for that ridiculous statement? Most of those guys were contractors making minimum wage or just a bit more when turned into government employees. You're frigging nutz if you think a TSA employee is making that much money when engineers are hired in as GS-9's making $30K a year. Go to usajobs.com and check out some of the job listings and show me what is required to earn a fed position at $170k a year.

[Dave W]

Bull.

[subzeroheat]

One of the problems with gov. workers is that most of them, if not all, are unionized. Their wages can only go up, never down.

Take for example, Air traffic controllers can easily make over 6 figures and retire EARLIER than other fed. workers.

[ozarkgirl]

If it’s so bad - why don’t you get a job in the private sector?

[northwinds]

I am an attorney in private practice. Recently, I spoke with a federal bureaucrat who started at a low level job with the government about the time I started practicing law. He got several promotions over the years and is a mid-level employee at this point. He just turned 54 and I am 56. He recently told me he would be retiring later this year and will receive $87,000 a year in pension for the rest of his life. On top of that he just needs a few more quarters of employment to qualify for social security benefits (his government job was so demanding over the years that he was able to work part time as well). So he's going to be making over $100,000 a year throughout his retirement years. Trust me, I've worked a great deal harder over the years, with much more risk and stress and have not been able to put myself in a position to do this well in retirement. Nor, can I retire at age 55. Government jobs are the way to go. Most of the governmet workers I know could not hold down a job a Walmart but are pulling down 60-80 K a year and acting POed about it.

[agere_contra]

From my experience, about 1/2 the people with Government jobs in the UK are useless, whiney drones.

The other half do all the work.

[skully]

This is BS. I work for the goberment as a Computer Programmer, and no way do I make more then my peers in the real world.

[Osage Orange]

Ha!

I work in the private sector.

I work every week-end...52 weeks a year.

I work 12 hrs a day.

I am interrupted on avg. 1 out of every 5 lunch breaks...to go check on something or someone.

Checkmate!?!?

[Osage Orange]

I was working while also having over 8 major orthopedic surgeries, neuro surgery and cancer surgery

Okay...you win.

I didn't do that....

Hope you are well and good!!

FRegards,

[Dave W]

Amen. You speak the truth. It really is a scandal, but someday this will come crashing down, it will take years, but it will come crashing down. The local and state pensions will be the first to go.

I think you can even make a case that it is corrupt.

[SoCalPol]

Hey, each of us had it tough
Take Care

[SoCalPol]

No problem. We both had it tough

[Always Independent]

Sister in law = NonValue Added Trash. No offense to her, just her job.