A report from the Economic Policy Institute concluded that Michigan public employees, including teachers, make on average 5.3% less that private workers when education is taken into account. The report goes against one released by Michigan's Governor, which claimed that public workers were paid more. The difference in the two reports is because the EPI's took into account education. Critics of the EPI report say that it underestimates the costs of benefits to the state. The Governor is advocating for cuts to public sector spending as a way to balance the budget.
See "Report counters Snyder's claim that public employees are overpaid", Chris Christoff, Detroit Free Press, February 2, 2011