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Comparing Wages in the Federal Government and the Private Sector: Working Paper 2012-03

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  • Justin Falk

Abstract

This analysis used Current Population Survey data from 2005 through 2010 to compare the hourly wages of federal employees and workers in the private sector who have certain similar observable characteristics. In that comparison, we found that the arithmetic average of wages was about 21 percent higher for federal employees than for their private-sector counterparts among workers with no more than a high school education, was about the same in both sectors among workers with a bachelor’s degree, and was 23 percent lower in the federal sector among workers with a professional

Suggested Citation

  • Justin Falk, 2012. "Comparing Wages in the Federal Government and the Private Sector: Working Paper 2012-03," Working Papers 42922, Congressional Budget Office.
    • Handle: RePEc:cbo:wpaper:42922
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    File URL: https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/112th-congress-2011-2012/workingpaper/2012-03fedwageswp.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Justin Falk, 2012. "Comparing Benefits and Total Compensation in the Federal Government and the Private Sector: Working Paper 2012-04," Working Papers 42923, Congressional Budget Office.
    2. Falk Justin R., 2012. "Comparing Benefits and Total Compensation between Similar Federal and Private-Sector Workers," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 1-37, October.

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