Workers in government received an average $39.74 an hour in wages and benefits in June compared to $27.64 an hour for private sector employees, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Total compensation for government and private workers combined averaged $29.52 an hour.
In private industry, wages and salary made up 70.6% of total compensation in June while it was 65.7% for government workers.
Legally-required benefits such as Social Security, Medicare and workers compensation insurance were 8.3% of total compensation for private workers while insurance was 8%.
Insurance costs was the largest benefit for state and local workers, making up 11.8% of total compensation. Retirement and savings were second at 8%.
Compensation for private workers and government workers is not directly comparable, the BLS notes. There are differences. For instance, manufacturing and sales make up a large portion of private sector jobs but are rare in government. Professional and administrative support services make up two-thirds of government work but only half of jobs in the private sector.
Management, business and financial jobs had the highest total compensation in June: $55.27 an hour, including $38.29 in wages and salaries. Primary, secondary and special education school teachers were second at $51.09 of which $36.45 was wages and salaries.
Services industry workers were at the bottom of the compensation ladder getting $16.20 total per hour. That included $11.52 for wages and salaries.
Read the full report HERE.
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Wednesday, September 8, 2010
OC Register: Govt. job compensation 44% higher than private
September 8th, 2010, 11:09 am · 32 Comments · posted by Mary Ann Milbourn
Management, business and financial jobs? What products do they make? Where are the people that manufacture stuff? All of these people can be employed while providing no local jobs.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the service sector is servicing a country that doesn't make anything.
How long will that last?
Lets build something useful. I don't care who does it, private or public, we just need to reinvest and rebuild this country and make stuff people buy. I don't know how you can help this along as a city council member but if anyone can figure it out, you can.