They absolutely do settle for less. I moved from public sector to private sector and tripled my total compensation. I did go to a lot more meetings, though. :-

They absolutely do settle for less. I moved from public sector to private sector and tripled my total compensation. I did go to a lot more meetings, though. :-) At lower skill and compensation levels public sector jobs do have a pay advantage. At much past high school graduate levels of skill the advantage shifts to private pay, and that shift goes exponential for any skill that is in demand.