More on the Federal Pay Debate

It's no surprise that the debate over whether federal pay outpaces private sector pay is a hot topic again, particularly given the results of last week's midterm elections. USA Today has a new article claiming that the number of federal workers earning $150,000 or more per year has soared tenfold in the past five years and doubled since President Obama took office.

The article claims that top-paid staff have increased in every department and agency, with the biggest pay hikes going to employees who have been with the government for 15 to 24 years. Since 2005, for example, average salaries for workers with 15 to 24 years of service have climbed 25 percent compared with a 9 percent inflation rate. In addition, federal workers earning $150,000 or more make up 3.9 percent of the workforce, up from 0.4 percent in 2005, the article notes.

Since fiscally conservative Republicans won control of the House and made significant inroads in the Senate last week, some lawmakers already are making plans to challenge the president's proposal to give a 1.4 percent average pay raise to federal workers in 2011.

Jessica Klement, government affairs director for the Federal Managers Association, also tells USA Today that while official pay analyses show feds earn less than private sector workers for comparable jobs, many managers are willing to give up next year's raise.

What's your take? Where does the information technology field fit into this debate, particularly as the government faces stiff competition with the private sector for such workers? And are you willing to forgo next year's raise as FMA suggests?