Despite Recession, Salaries of Government Employees Soar
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The total number of government employees making six-figure salaries has surged in the recession, according to the USA Today in an analysis done on federal salary data.
In an economic climate that has seen 7.3 million jobs in the private sector cut, government employees are seeing boost in pay, as well as hiring.
Federal workers that make more than $100,000 in the first 18 months of the recession has gone up to 19 percent of total civil servants; up from 14 percent before the recession.
The highest-paid government workers are seeing the greatest benefit from the hikes in pay. The number of employees for the Defense Department that make more that make $150,000 has increased to 10,100 in June 2009, the most recently released data, from 1,868 in December of 2007.
Another example that USA Today pointed out was the Transportation Department having just one employee making more than $170,000 a year when the recession started, and 18-months later 1,690 workers reached this level.
"There is no way to justify this to the American people," Utah Rep., Jason Chaffetz said.
According to Jessica Klement, government affairs director for the Federal Managers Association, the government employs skilled workers such as scientists, physicians and lawyers, all of whom supposedly make 26 percent less than private workers in the same fields.
The federal worker's average pay is $71,206 currently, while the average private worker makes $40,331 per year.
In an economic climate that has seen 7.3 million jobs in the private sector cut, government employees are seeing boost in pay, as well as hiring.
Federal workers that make more than $100,000 in the first 18 months of the recession has gone up to 19 percent of total civil servants; up from 14 percent before the recession.
The highest-paid government workers are seeing the greatest benefit from the hikes in pay. The number of employees for the Defense Department that make more that make $150,000 has increased to 10,100 in June 2009, the most recently released data, from 1,868 in December of 2007.
Another example that USA Today pointed out was the Transportation Department having just one employee making more than $170,000 a year when the recession started, and 18-months later 1,690 workers reached this level.
"There is no way to justify this to the American people," Utah Rep., Jason Chaffetz said.
According to Jessica Klement, government affairs director for the Federal Managers Association, the government employs skilled workers such as scientists, physicians and lawyers, all of whom supposedly make 26 percent less than private workers in the same fields.
The federal worker's average pay is $71,206 currently, while the average private worker makes $40,331 per year.
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