3 ms·

This is like the "Java is slow" myth that will never go away :-) In 2014 federal civilian workers had an average wage of $84,153, according the U.S. Bureau of

by jazzyk 10y ago

This is like the "Java is slow" myth that will never go away :-) In 2014 federal civilian workers had an average wage of $84,153, according the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis [1].5 By comparison, the average wage for the nation's 111 million private-sector workers was $56,350. In Las Vegas, the average salary and benefits package for firefighter union employees was $199,678 (in 2009, I think) [2]. The average salary alone was $128,026. Please also note that federal government pensions are in a league of its own - 80% of your last year salary - and there are stories in newspapers every year about, for example, street cops working overtime and making $120K+ in their last year. [1] http://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=9&step=1#reqid=9&step=3&isuri=1&903=201 http://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?ReqID=9&step=1#reqid=9&... [2] http://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/dec/30/cost-cutting-ideas-center-salaries/ http://lasvegassun.com/news/2009/dec/30/cost-cutting-ideas-c...

dragonwriter 10y ago
If you compare like jobs rather than workforce averages without regard to distribution of kinds, you'll find different results. You are also wrong about federal pensions, they aren't as a rule 80% of your final year salary. The normal FERS formula is 0.01 * high-3 * years of service (full months of service less than a year count as fractional years). The "high-3" is the highest annual pay of any 3 consecutive years of service. To get 80% of the high-3 (which, with increasing salary, is still less than 80% of last service year) you'd have to have 80 years of service.
omilu 10y ago
>>80% of your last year salary This was under the old retirement system called CSRS. If you entered service after 1987 you are under FERS where 20 years of service gets you 20% pension, and you get additional 1% for every additional year. So 40 years you get 40% pension, not great.

by jazzyk 10y ago

dragonwriter 10y ago

If you compare like jobs rather than workforce averages without regard to distribution of kinds, you'll find different results. You are also wrong about federal pensions, they aren't as a rule 80% of your final year salary. The normal FERS formula is 0.01 * high-3 * years of service (full months of service less than a year count as fractional years). The "high-3" is the highest annual pay of any 3 consecutive years of service. To get 80% of the high-3 (which, with increasing salary, is still less than 80% of last service year) you'd have to have 80 years of service.

omilu 10y ago

>>80% of your last year salary This was under the old retirement system called CSRS. If you entered service after 1987 you are under FERS where 20 years of service gets you 20% pension, and you get additional 1% for every additional year. So 40 years you get 40% pension, not great.