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During recession, federal employees making 6 figures soar

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | December 11, 2009 at 07:56 am

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USA Today in its analysis of federal salary data reports that the number of federal workers earning six-figure salaries has exploded during the recession.

This is not likely to sit well with many struggling Americans.

Federal employees making salaries of $100,000 or more jumped from 14% to 19% of civil servants during the recession's first 18 months — and that's before overtime pay and bonuses are counted.
Federal workers are enjoying an extraordinary boom time — in pay and hiring — during a recession that has cost 7.3 million jobs in the private sector.

The highest-paid federal employees are doing best of all on salary increases. Defense Department civilian employees earning $150,000 or more increased from 1,868 in December 2007 to 10,100 in June 2009, the most recent figure available.

When the recession started, the Transportation Department had only one person earning a salary of $170,000 or more. Eighteen months later, 1,690 employees had salaries above $170,000.

The trend to six-figure salaries is occurring throughout the federal government, in agencies big and small, high-tech and low-tech. The primary cause: substantial pay raises and new salary rules.

"There's no way to justify this to the American people. It's ridiculous," says Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, a first-term lawmaker who is on the House's federal workforce subcommittee.

Jessica Klement, government affairs director for the Federal Managers Association, says the federal workforce is highly paid because the government employs skilled people such as scientists, physicians and lawyers. She says federal employees make 26% less than private workers for comparable jobs.

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snuffysmith

at 08:02 on December 11th, 2009

haven't you heard? Washington isn't in a recession.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 08:03 on December 11th, 2009

Ha!

a211423

at 08:16 on December 11th, 2009

I am happy to report that California has reduced lawmakers pay effective this month.

California State lawmakers and other top elected officials had their pay and some benefits slashed by 18% effective today, two weeks after the state attorney general rejected a challenge to the reductions from the Legislature.

The base salary for legislators drops from $116,208 to $95,291, while the governor’s salary, which Arnold Schwarzenegger does not accept, goes from $212,179 to $173,987.

The cut was approved in May by the California Citizens Compensation Commission. It also applies to California's controller, treasurer, attorney general and other statewide elected officials. The panel determined that the officials should share the pain of budget cuts that put most other state employees on three unpaid furlough days a month.

Susan Marie Kovalinsky

at 08:25 on December 11th, 2009

thanks, A! At least CA is doing the right thing! ; )

snuffysmith

at 08:31 on December 11th, 2009

Six-Figure Federal Salaries Jumped 46% During The RecessionBecause they're more skilled than the private sector. Read

My comment: Uh Huh! Espcially those in the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve, and Council on Economic Advisors.

America's Partners Are Now Treating Us Like A Third-World Country Watch how the weak dollar has dramatically changed our standing in the eyes of the world. Read

Hugh Askew

at 10:58 on December 11th, 2009

I know it is a Republican invention, but maybe Obama believes in the trickle down theory of economics. Only excuse i can think of.

snuffysmith

at 13:56 on December 11th, 2009

Six-Figure Federal Salary Gravy Trainfrom Mish's Global Economic Trend Analysis by Michael Shedlock

Hugh Askew

at 16:30 on December 11th, 2009

Noticed the gummit is going to cap salaries at the "companies" it bailed out. While "state owned properties" might be more accurate, the news of the gummits actions seems rather at odds with what it practices within.