N.C. State Workers Making Out Like Bandits

Civitas Review Magazine reported in their October edition the income gap between public and private sector workers. North Carolina’s state employees are making out like bandits. The average annual wage of government workers increased 34.5% from the years 2000 to 2009, while the private sector increased only 27%.


AVERAGE ANNUAL WAGE IN NORTH CAROLINA

                                                                                            2000             2009

State Government                                                              $32,832        $44,158

Private
Sector                                                                                                                                                                                 $30,977                                 $39,350
Gap                                                                                        6%             12.2%




TOTAL COMPENSATION IN 2009

Private Sector                                                                        $55,737

State Government                                                                   $67,008

Gap                                                                                            20%


The disparity between the two is quite striking. North Carolina is facing a huge budget deficit. State lawmakers need to readjust the wage and compensation packages of government workers. It needs to be in line with the private sector. What is even more outrageous is they get to retire at age 55 while the rest of us slave away for another 10 to 15 years. I wish I had that deal.