Friday, October 9, 2015

"Federal Employees' Wages Growing Faster Than Everybody Else’s"

"Pay freeze over, for government types anyway."
Only three worker categories have higher average wages than civilian federal government employees: company management, utilities, and mining. Even the high-demand information technology and finance fields offer lower average wages.
The latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) show that wages rose 2.9 percent in the federal government in 2014, on average, compared to 1.7 percent in the private sector.
When benefits such as pensions and health care are included, federal compensation increased 2.8 percent, on average, compared to 1.3 percent in the private sector.
Federal civilian workers had an average wage of $84,153 in 2014, compared to an average in the private sector of $56,350. The federal advantage in overall compensation (wages plus benefits) is even greater. Federal compensation averaged $119,934 in 2014, which was 78 percent higher than the private-sector average of $67,246.

12 comments:

chickelit said...

Unsustainable

bagoh20 said...

I believe this is what Democrats mean by income redistribution. From each according to their need - to each according to their greed.

It's relative slavery, because the private sector is literally forced to support richer public employees. Set my people free!

chickelit said...

May I coin an elision?

F'eral Government

chickelit said...

The focus of the greed is Washington, DC, where money is liberally doled out. There is however, an effort underfoot to spread the f'eral largesse nationwide into satellite outposts so as not to so conspicuously concentrate the wealth. The well-being of DC and surrounding counties is so important that every political stripe has effectively conspired to keep it so.

chickelit said...

Scott Walker ran an effective campaign in Wisconsin, countering the same effect (outpaced state worker compensation). His political demise has effectively shutdown opposition to the largesse.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Unsustainable

If the rest of the world gets their act together, it could look very bad for us in the near future.

deborah said...

Between the computerized banking system allowing the garnishment of your paycheck and DHS para-military capabilities, I think it's sustainable for a long time.

Aridog said...

That chart is distorted due to inclusion of SES pay levels...I know this because I compared it to my salary for years cited in the graph. I was either cheated or whatever, even as a rather senior civil servant in DOD & DA...my scale never hit the heights cited for the years cited (never mind that I busted my butt in those years to provide truth and real services to those who paid my salary...the tax payers...and was periodically punished for it) ...so it must include SES grades...who are NOT civil servants but at will political appointees....who have clout (skeletons in closets)...think Lois Lerner. When we have a Navy with more Admirals that ships of any kind above small craft, let alone ships of the line, start looking there. The rest of the senior federal bloat in DC is no different.

Aridog said...

That said, I agree with chickelit's term: "feral government" ...it really is just that, an institution, increasingly bloated, run amok and no one in control. The reason Lois Lerner "skated" was simple enough: she had too much information on everyone else. Same for Hillary...just for different levels of governance. Had I done 1/10th of what Hillary has done I'd be writing this from Leavenworth...no doubt about it. Came damn close as it was...big wheels do not like it when you reveal their malfeasance, monetary or fiduciary. They WILL get you...

Aridog said...

Let me be even clearer: you can cut the federal SES level executive class by 75% plus (I'd go for 90% plus) and not notice it. Is anyone from any party running on the idea of reducing this bloat? Crickets....

They are ALL political appointees with baggage that entwines those who appoint them. Hence their power. Almost none, repeat none, (okay, just maybe 1 in 10 to be very charitable) have any experience in the functions they oversee...they just show up and lacking any real skills, write "rules" for the rest of us. Such a deal.

I was lucky as a DOD/DA "Fed"...if a staff SES type (and they are ALL "staff") hassled me too much I could always say, talk to my Colonel, my commander, whom I reported to directly...he tells me to do it, I will, you tell me...no so much. Fun really...makes their eyes bug out :-) ...

Think about that the next time some IRS or OHSA or EPA "rule" (not legislated per se) causes you grief ... it came from someone who knows nothing about you or your field of work. They don't even want to know...that's why that mud puddle in your front yard is a
"wetland." (by way of example) And once so designated you cannot do anything with your front yard. Period. Even if drought dry as a bone.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Ha ha. Looks like the private sector has a lot of catching up to do!

Aridog said...

R & B ... too funny. The "private sector" is exactly where the government learned it's lessons on bloated bureaucracy. The PS is rife with it in every major corporation. Or did I misunderstand you?