Government

Federal Worker Salaries of $150,000+ Double on Obama’s Watch

Federal government workers have notoriously earned more than — in many cases more than double — their private sector counterparts for a while. But a new analysis from USA Today sheds light on the shocking size and scope of pay increases for federal workers, most notably in recent years. According to USA Today, the number of federal workers earning salaries of $150,000 or more has increased tenfold over the past five years and doubled since President Obama took office in January 2009.

Federal Worker Salaries of $150,000+ Double on Obamas Watch

Graph: USA Today

While the rest of the U.S. economy remains stagnant, the fast-growing pay of federal employees has raised eyebrows among conservative Republicans. Though the GOP made significant gains during last week’s midterm elections, Republicans are wary of Democrats’ plans to approve a 1.4 percent across-the-board pay raise to 2.1 million federal workers during the upcoming lame-duck session. USA Today reports:

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who will head the panel overseeing federal pay, says he wants a pay freeze and prefers a 10% pay cut. “It‘s stunning when you see what’s happened to federal compensation,” he says. “Every metric shows we’re heading in the wrong direction.”

National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley counters that the proposed raise “is a modest amount and should be implemented” to help make salaries more comparable with those in the private sector.

Federal salaries have grown robustly in recent years, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Office of Personnel Management data. Key findings:

• Government-wide raises. Top-paid staff have increased in every department and agency. The Defense Department had nine civilians earning $170,000 or more in 2005, 214 when Obama took office and 994 in June.

• Long-time workers thrive. The biggest pay hikes have gone to employees who have been with the government for 15 to 24 years. Since 2005, average salaries for this group climbed 25% compared with a 9% inflation rate.

• Physicians rewarded. Medical doctors at veterans hospitals, prisons and elsewhere earn an average of $179,500, up from $111,000 in 2005.

Federal workers earning $150,000 or more now make up 3.9% of the country’s workforce, up from just 0.4% in 2005.  In addition, federal workers enjoy more robust benefits packages than their private sector counterparts.

Since 2000, federal pay and benefits have increased 3% annually above inflation compared with 0.8% for private workers, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Members of Congress earn $174,000, up from $141,300 in 2000, an increase below the rate of inflation.

Comments (91)

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  • Ruler4You
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:12am

    We all know that Cloward and Piven mapped this out. But Americans haven‘t ’swamped’ the system as expected. So, you have to do it from inside. By paying government employees 2x private sector wages and then using that as a lure to get more employees to enter ‘federal’ service.

    Report Post » Ruler4You  
  • psst
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:10am

    IMO, we should ALL work for the government.
    100% employment.Hussein has just gotten through negotations w/ the Indian government to sell US millions of shovel ready shovels.
    This means the government must own ALL means of productions, banking ets. Oh- they are working hard on this already.
    Everyone must be unionized in order to work.
    Everyone will make 150K+ great no HO-mama care.And excellente retirement package at age fitty-five
    I tell you folks. this will be paradise.
    Just think, the government, that’s US, No?will own everything.
    Sooo if you own the supermarkets, just go and gat all the food you need for free.
    Sooo, if we own the utilities, we won’t receive an energy bill. It’s all free.
    Since we are the government No? we will own the companies we work for. That means we will ALL be self employed. We will be the boss, the jefes .
    The bosses,Jefes don‘t have to go to work if they don’t feel like it. Go pick up some free golf clubs or stop in and get a free fishing boat. Make a day of it. Or a week, a month or even a year.
    Just look at those guys on all those drilling rigs (what’s left anyway) that’s hard work. Since they are the boss,the people own those rigs, No? the people are the government, why the hell get dirty drilling for oil.
    I say, let’s not screw up a good thing. Let’s all get government jobs.Who the hell need evil rich private enterprises? They will insists we work our arses off, No?
    Yes folks , government , thst’s US,No?. it’s by the people, of the people and for the people, No?
    We are the bosses, No? lets work or not work for ourselves.
    And last but not least, let’s raise our paychecks. A measly 150K+ is not good enough for us.
    That’s pocket change. Lets make real money.
    Um Real money? what’s that?
    Now who the hell asked that stupid ?
    Nirvana,Utopia,Paradise, Heaven .

    Report Post »  
  • BJH
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:08am

    My parents on Social Security didn’t receive a cost of living raise in 2010 and will not get one in 2011 even tho Medicare premiums go up as benefits go down as reported by this administration. Also costs of all necessities have went up. This administration claims that there was no actual cost of living increase therefore no cost of living pay increase is warranted. But these people get a cost of living raise on top of the enormous salary they already get. Cut the czar’s and their staff, plus 1/3 at least of the federal employees. The remaining including congress, should pay their share of health insurance premiums (the same one they want us on) and their share of social security deductions. No more snack and drink allowances on the job. We have to buy our own snacks and drinks on the job. Make them drive their own cars with a reimbursement for gas actually used while on taxpayer time.

    Report Post »  
    • Iliketea
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 5:33pm

      I am also on social security, and everything you said is true. I think they are trying to make all
      of older people move in with our children. If things kept going as they have the last two years not
      only are old peope in trouble, all of you are in trouble.

      Report Post »  
    • mrclean
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:15pm

      My spouse and I live on social security $1140 per month and no savings or assets or pensions. I guess there are plenty of us in this poverty boat and I am convinced the gov is intentionally trying to rid themselves of the older generation. I‘ve had it with the 20 and 30 somethings yelling about how they’re tired of listening to us and wish we would just die. This is pure evil how they have no respect for those who are up in years, as if they will never get there.

      Report Post » mrclean  
  • LukeAppling
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:04am

    When politicians are involved in determining pay rates they are very liberal with our money.
    It is very much like liberals and charity ,they always talk highly of giving to charity but , like Obama and the Bidens, they talk a better game than their tax returns show in their charitable gift giving. Both families , prior to their giving being visible, were very cheap. Democrats seem to brag about gift giving when they are not exposed much like their wanting higher taxes for the rest of us when it is well known whomever wants to give more to the government is free to do so they need not wait for the IRS to ask for more-so Maher, Olbermann, Streisand, Baldwin, Stewart, Letterman and Soros feel free to give as much as you wish I would appreciate it.

    Report Post »  
  • mamawalker
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:02am

    …and how many new IRS agents are they getting ready to enforce all their new reforms and at what salary?????

    Report Post »  
  • TheGreyPiper
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:00am

    They should slash everyone in the gov making over 35 or 40 k by at least 25% and re-route the payroll to the armed services.

    Report Post » TheGreyPiper  
  • neverending
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:51am

    Anything this empty suit can do he is right in there. Have an acquaintance that got a temporary assignment for one year – the year is up and the job is finished but no problem there just making up a position so he can go permanent!!! Everyday just more sickening crap by this administration. We need a Mike Pence, Chris Cristie, Herman Cain for starters that we could once again be proud of and have the ability to lead this country out of the mess we are in. No more empty suits, no more stupid nonsense just get us back to where our Founding Fathers started this great country.

    Report Post »  
  • Marcobob69
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:44am

    Well, now the GOP knows where to start “trimming the fat” from this bloated government. This is B.S.!

    Report Post »  
  • powhatan
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:41am

    Wait a minute…civillian govt workers are way overpaid and practically are fire proof?, but we have to cut defense and the soldiers make dink? More upside down craziness….This MUST STOP!!!!

    Report Post » powhatan  
  • In God We Trust
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:33am

    After reading this all I can do is shake my head.. Whats next? =/

    Report Post » In God We Trust  
  • COMMONSENSEJOHN
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:31am

    It’s simple guys they are intentionaly trying to bankrupt the Republic, how else can you explain this increase. It is almost akin to giving a lung cancer patient more cigarettes!!!

    Report Post »  
  • NHABE64
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:19am

    Just part of Obama’s corruption, All part of Obama’s plan if he can not convince people with his bs, he will buy their loyalty, coerce them, frighten them (imagine that from a cowardly cockroach), whatever it tiakes he will just keep printing money knowing our hole is getting too deep. He doesn’t care, because he is not a Patriot or a US citizen. He is a devil and even has more of George Soros’s money to spread around. He must be stopped now!

    Report Post »  
  • Slevdog1
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:17am

    Wow, I’m a state employee as a teacher @ a public school and I wish I made that much, I’m jealous. However, this just continues to add up in the big government atmosphere……..

    Report Post »  
  • Ohiowoman
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:00am

    Here’s a thought. Lay off all of the workers hired during Obama’s administration. Isn’t that the way it works in most companies when they cut staff? The newest hires are the first to go? Of course, that would include all of those czars since they weren’t appointed or approved by Congress, but simply “hired” by Obama.

    Report Post »  
  • poverty.sucks
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:59am

    POTUS has been working hard at getting things done. Jobs for his voters.

    Report Post » poverty.sucks  
  • TexasGranny
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:57am

    Having worked for many years in the private sector but closely with “government” employees I can testify that it takes a minimum of 2 and sometimes as many as 4 “government” employees to accomplish the same amount of productivity as “1” employee in the private sector. They are notoriously slow paced and extremely proficient at passing off to someone else any project they do not wish to complete. When asked about anything that has “fallen through the cracks”, their response is “That’s not my job!” Not only do they not take a personal interest in their work, they also are not held accountable when it is their job.

    Report Post »  
    • bookofwisdom
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:43am

      You are so right. I worked for 20 years in “city” government and the higher ups were the ones making High six (6) figures while most of us peons barely made $20 – $25,000 a year, and the lazy ones who did half the work they were supposed to do could not be fired because of race. I was forced to retire because my parents became ill and I had to move back home to take care of them. I now live on retirement (no raises) and social security (no raises), $1,900.00 a month, with no savings. Tell me how Congress can give themselves raises when I can’t have one. Something is very wrong with this picture. Prices are going to jump sky high and what are people like me supposed to do? Those people in Washington need to reduce their spending and have to live like us ordinary folk. See if they can survive on what we have earned. May God Bless.

      Report Post » bookofwisdom  
    • rgalunas
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:51am

      I like your comment or work ethics. I believe its the fault of our atheist education system that teaches me first instead of God first. I put God first in everything I do, especially work!!! Did you know in France students cant even wear a cross!!! Is that happening to us now!

      Report Post »  
    • mrclean
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:02pm

      I will attest under oath that I have heard the story first hand of how people say “that’s not my job” from at least two life-long lazy fed gov employees who retired with enormous pensions PLUS social security PLUS cadillac health insurance and all those years did nothing more difficult than be a receptionist.

      This waste is maddening and needs to be dealt with

      Report Post » mrclean  
  • GhostOfJefferson
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:57am

    With the coming hyperinflation, Barry is simply ensuring that his posse is still able to buy groceries. It’s all prep-work folks.

    Report Post » GhostOfJefferson  
  • Ronko
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:54am

    Screw the poor and middle class more so that the big Govt can save the day with handouts that secure votes for the Dems. That game is over once Obama leaves in 2012 then the true restoration of the economy will occur.

    Report Post »  
  • MotoMofo
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:52am

    We’re the slaves now and the government is our masters.

    Report Post » MotoMofo  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 2:36pm

      I am not their slave and they are not my master. They did not succeed. They have been stopped from making this their ultimate goal. Go to the youcut.com website and see all the garbage that can be cut from the budget and the billions of dollars it will save us. YouCut is a site by Eric Cantor.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
  • Marylou7
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:51am

    I say cut their pay 50% to start and make them contribute to their healthcare.

    Report Post » Marylou7  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 2:33pm

      They need to pay their back, unpaid taxes of $1 billion. Cancelling their next pay increase would save us $35 billion. Defund the Czars, also. If they want to be an Obama Czar let them volunteer or let Obama pay for them out of his salary. They also need to decertify the Unions nationwide and send this evil bunch packing. I’m fed up with the garbage going on.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
  • klevalt
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:50am

    This is why I wanted a job with The Man… then out of principal, even though I would get paid much more than I am making now in the private sector, I have chosen to walk away… What a lose-lose scenario we are living in!

    Report Post » klevalt  
  • AmericanSoldier
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:48am

    I’ve been upset about the fact that Federal/Government employees make so much. Government jobs shouldn’t be appealing. You should want to work for the Government to make a difference, not get rich. I’d be curious as to what these federal workers do. A government job could be ANYTHING.

    Government jobs should be limited.

    Report Post » American Soldier (Separated)  
    • Beckofile
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:05am

      Limit all government employees and politicians to the median income of the district they are working in or representing. They all can share in the wonderfull social security system for a pension. They can be enrolled in Medicare while employed or holding office. George Washington warned of creating coveted government jobs. More in the cart then pulling the cart. The cart will stop at some point.

      Report Post » Beckofile  
    • Oversat
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:29am

      As a soldier, I just want to say, why the heck can’t I make as much as my civilian counterpart? I’m not saying I make too much…I’m enlisted (not an officer), I don’t make squat!

      Report Post » Oversat  
    • janddjohnson
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:48am

      Oversat
      Isn’t military a government job? The military should be making money and not these inefficient, lazy, good for nothing gov workers. Military take a risk with their lives everyday and I just don’t get it. For them to be getting a raise just has my eyes bleeding. I think we should have a say atleast in some manner how much money these idiots make.

      Report Post » Deanna in Missouri  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 2:27pm

      It appears they get paid to watch porn over the internet or promote the takeover of the country by communism/socialism/facism/marxism. Did you know that these workers owe over $1billion in back, unpaid taxes and are expecting further pay raises totalling $35billion? Meanwhile, I’m a Sr Cit living on $800 a mo and the first thing the fearmongering Left wants to do is get even by putting me out on the street as soon as possible. It’s the old “create a crisis” routine so they can run in as Rescuers in the next election. Prior to this, they always said, “There’s nothing wrong with Social Security”.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:48am

    I just posted this here. I saw an ad on TV a few minutes ago. It says to go to the site and look at the map to see where the jobs are, so I think, okay, a new resource for the unemployed! NOT.
    CARD CHECK and other socialist goals are listed. I wonder if this is a branch of Organizing for America? You, too, can be a CANVASS ORGANIZER starting at $11.00 an hour. Already preparing to steal the next election? Sounds an awful lot like ACORN!!!!! BEWARE and keep your eye on this group, for sure.
    http://www.workingamerica.org/about/jobs.cfm “WORKING AMERICA”

    Report Post » EqualJustice  
  • halfbrain
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:47am

    ….and us in the private sector are working to pay those in the government more. One would think with all those working for the Federal government, things should be getting better. Where are the outrage from the Unions and others?

    Report Post »  
    • untameable-kate
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:30am

      He has to get the payrates up so he can tax them more, makes sense to him I guess. Meanwhile my pay sure hasn’t gone up.

      Report Post » Untameable-kate  
    • Dodgersfan16
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:42am

      I thought that if you work for Obama you dont have to pay taxes…

      Report Post »  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 2:16pm

      I am a Disabled Senior Citizen on Social Security. I live in a Senior Citizen’s Only Mobile Home Park, where I own my own home. Every year the park owner raises the rent. Eventually I could be put out in the street and lose my home. Meanwhile, the size of govt increases along with their pay. The first thing the Liberal Democrats think of is to put me out in the street faster. This is fear-mongering payback for the results of the election. Oh, by the way, I pay property taxes yearly on my home.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 2:18pm

      It’s time to defund the Czars. Make Federal employees pay their back taxes of $1 billion and stop further pay increases to them to save another $35 billion.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
    • EP46
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:31pm

      Stop and think how many families paying taxes it takes to pay the salary and benefits for just one federal worker ! Also, obama has cut the cost-of-living increase for disabled people receiving social security to zero…zero both years he has been in office. Now, how would you spend your hard earned money if you had a choice….pay for a $150,000.00 yr job for a government worker, or add $10 a month to a disabled person’s income?

      I Know, we would rather keep it for our own family, but since we can’t, just think of the choice shown above. obama is really for the little guy isn’t he.

      Report Post »  
  • seanpatriot
    Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:43am

    This has got to stop

    Report Post » seanpatriot  
    • cubber
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:52am

      It already is stopping. Cut up the credit card. DO NOT raise the debt ceiling. Our only hope.

      Report Post » cubber  
    • TruthTalker
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:55am

      It’s ok, they won’t be doing much harm while making this money, they will be surfing porn sites.

      Report Post »  
    • sweetbees
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:56am

      How does I be gettin me a jobz in dat dere govinment?

      Report Post »  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:09am

      Under the Self Anointed One who has no idea what it takes to have money, let alone how it is made in business, this is no suprise that he raises govt salaries while taxing everything else to death and breaking down the nation for his lord and master Soros.

      Indeed it needs to stop and be reversed.

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • HKS
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:20am

      I think they are saying, “spread the wealth is ok as long as you spread it to me.” Do we have a copycat of that city in California?

      Report Post » HKS  
    • gobluebuckeye
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:21am

      no surprise, when all else fails buy your votes

      Report Post » gobluebuckeye  
    • Rogue
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 10:24am

      I hope the new congress was paying attention when the UK slashed government jobs. They need to treat this just like a large corporate downsizing – close down unnecessary departments, start laying off the big earners that aren’t carrying their weight, and for those who are left, hand them a hefty pay cut. It used to be that Govt workers were paid less, but it was balanced out with amazing benefits. Now they get paid more, have more benefits, and in most instances do MUCH less work than most people. And we’re signing the paychecks. Disgusting.

      Report Post » Rogue  
    • Hobo Boondocks
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:11am

      Please don’t begrudge our nations’ government workers this pay raise!
      During my lifetime of nearly 60 years, I’ve learned of how distressing the effects of hyper- inflation can be on the average citizen. Some years ago in one of the communistic block of nations (I can’t remember what country it was) a woman related that in weight it took more paper currency to buy a roll of toilet paper than the weight of the roll of toilet paper! Guess what some people were using as toilet paper. Obama is just looking out for our government worker’s future, making sure they have plenty of toilet paper.

      Report Post »  
    • ltb
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:43am

      Working for the government used to be thought of as “public service” and people didn’t seek government jobs because of the benefits, or because they expected to make as much in the private sector, they did it because they wanted to serve their fellow Americans. The public sector was NEVER meant to compete with the private sector when it comes to salaries and it makes me sick that 82,034 bureaucrats are making $150,000+ a year while American soldiers, who risk their lives defending freedom around the world, have to supplement their meager incomes with food stamps.

      Report Post » ltb  
    • Indomitus
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 11:52am

      When are the slack-jawed e-pundits going to tire of being raped every day and do something about it?

      Report Post »  
    • Polwatcher
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:03pm

      Didn’t some cons who worked for the government of a small town in California recently get prosecuted for getting grossly overpaid. This is actually white collar theft of a s sort. Obama is redistributing our money to his friends. Hopefully, all this will stop Jan. 1, 2011.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 1:13pm

      Clearly the author of the USA today graph read the book “How to Lie with Statistics.” Why is the arbitrary year 2005 picked to contrast with 2010, when information for other years is just as available. Easy, the guy didn’t want display the information as a trend, simply as two points of comparison: 2005:Bush, 2010: Obama. My how federal wages have gone up now that Obama’s in office!. That’s the take-away for people who question nothing that agrees with their preconcieved notions.

      Next time, use intelligence God gave you. Check out this graph from the very conservative Cato Institute. Wages rose steadily every year Bush was President, and, yes, it looks like the trend has continued under Obama. My point? Try to be more informed before jumping to conclusions.

      http://www.cato-at-liberty.org/federal-employees-continue-to-prosper/

      Report Post » jzs  
    • CatB
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 4:23pm

      All of these career bureucrates need to be gone! We need new people who have worked in the private sector and know what it is to put in a full days work .. for a FAIR days pay! These entitlement whores need gone!

      Report Post »  
    • mrclean
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 9:50pm

      why oh why such a HUGE jump in a 4-5 yr time span?

      Not just the $$ but also the number of workers…..

      Report Post » mrclean  
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