New comparison tool shows state workers are paid more than private sector

Press Release from yesterday:

NEW COMPENSATION TOOL LETS OHIOANS COMPARE THEIR COMPENSATION PACKAGES TO STATE GOVERNMENT WORKERS

June 6, 2011-COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions today launched the new Government Compensation Comparison Tool. This tool gives private sector Ohioans the ability to compare their compensation packages to that of state government workers.

The average hourly rate for state workers in 2010 was $25.28, which equals an average yearly salary of $52,580.

The highest hourly rate for a State of Ohio employee was a physician who was paid $101.79 per hour.

The highest paid state worker earned $325,700, including more than $174,000 in overtime pay.

A comparison of state worker salary averages and private sector worker data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics for Ohio shows that in many cases state workers are paid much more than their private sector counterparts. Below are a few examples of private vs. public sector compensation:

· Cashiers: (private) $18,830 vs. (public) $35,511

· Laborers: (private) $25,500 vs. (public) $29,752

· Janitors and Cleaners: (private) 24,670 vs. (public) $30,620

· Registered nurses: (private) $60,590 vs. (public) $65,660

· Customer-service representatives (private) $32,500 vs. (public) $41,156.

The Government Compensation Comparison Tool can be found at http://buckeyeinstitute.org/job-comparison

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The Buckeye Institute for Public Policy Solutions is Ohio's premier free market think tank. Based in Columbus, Ohio, the Buckeye Institute has provided the research and solutions to Ohio's toughest public policy challenges in economic freedom and competitiveness, job creation and entrepreneurship, and government transparency and accountability for over 21 years.