Working for the government should be in the same ballpark but typically work at the government pays a less as there is to be the perceived benefit of social goo

Working for the government should be in the same ballpark but typically work at the government pays a less as there is to be the perceived benefit of social good imbedded in your salary as well as there are power considerations (in this case impacting AI policy). That and your job is generally considered to be safer than working in private interest. The incentives aren't the same. For example judges take on their roll even though they would be paid significantly more in the private sector as lawyers.