A study released by the Congressional Budget Office found that federal workers are paid and receive benefits that are 16% higher than private sector workers doing the same work. The study found that the differences in pay and benefits changed dramatically depending on education. On average, federal employees receive 2% higher wages and 48% higher benefits. As education of workers increases, the difference between the federal and private sectors decreases, and for those with professional degrees or doctorates, their counterparts in the private sector make 23% more. Congress will vote on extending a pay freeze for federal employees in the next week.
See "Federal work pays better, government study finds", Kathleen Pender, San Francisco Chronicle, January 30, 2012