The Average Government Worker Now Makes $71,000/year

By Ashley Jones on February 18, 2010, 3:25 pm Posted in Finance News

Ask anyone and they can tell you our country is in a recession. It’s practically impossible to read the newspaper or watch the television without seeing or hearing something negative about the present state of our economy. It’s no secret that many people are struggling financially. However, there is at least one group of workers that on average are doing fairly well: federal government employees.

Startling Statistics

Most economists would agree the recession began in December 2007. Since that time, the overall unemployment rate has reached a 15-year high, and is currently near 10%. Some even think that by this summer it could be as high as 11%, which would be the highest rate since World War II. Approximately 7.3 million jobs have been lost during this recession. The average salary for a non-government employee working in the United States is somewhere around $40,000.

Federal government employees however, seem to be doing much better. Recently it was reported that federal workers made an average salary of just over $71,000. Around 19% of federal employees make a six-figure salary. While the average non-government worker may fear his or her job being cut, government employees are actually having more opportunities for job promotions. An estimated 110,000 government jobs have been added during this recession. Substantial pay raises are being administered in these jobs as well.

Why are federal government employees being paid on average much more than the private sector? Some argue that those working for the government are highly-skilled employees working in areas such as law, medicine and science. Claims are also made that these same employees would actually make much more in a job if they were not working for the government. Others however, do not buy into this reasoning. Many are appalled that so many Americans are suffering while government employees seem to be managing very well for themselves.

 

Reasons For Governmental Pay Increases

There are a few reasons to explain why government employees are making more money today than in previous years. First, both former President Bush and President Obama have recommended pay increases, which have been approved by Congress. Most federal workers also get 1.5% raises each year. Merit raises are available for federal employees too, and some high-ranking employees have received large pay increases this way. Also some pay caps have been lifted in recent years, adding to the increasing wealth of some employees.

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