[SeekAndFind]

Before you bring out a violin, please note: Bureau of Economic Analysis data show that in 2016, federal government workers had average total compensation — wages, benefits, vacation, etc. — of $127,259 a year. For the private sector, it's just $70,764. So federal workers make 80% more than private ones, an absurd and unsustainable gap. As recently as 1990, the difference was just 30%.

[9YearLurker]

And for a lot of municipal and state workers things are even more out of wack. We’ll have to have some sort of bankruptcy out for them or something—because the private sector will never be able to support the insane pensions the local pols have given to the local muni unions.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Federal employees may not occupy the same spectrum as private sector employees in terms of skills and credentials. It’s an apples and oranges comparison that does not clarify anything.