"Everybody knows" that public employees earn more than those in the private sector.

"Everybody knows that public-sector workers are doing better economically than their private-sector counterparts" How many times have you heard that recently? Problem is, it's simply not true! If you repeat a lie enough times, it starts to be believed (remember "death panels?")


It is true that the average public employee earns more than the average private-sector worker. But when Bill Gates walks into a restaurant, every patron--on average--becomes a millionaire! We need to compare apples with apples. In Wisconsin, for example, 60% of public-sector workers have earned at least a bachelor's degree, versus 20% of private-sector workers. (Public-sector workers include teachers, lawyers, nurses and other medical professionals, engineers, etc. All occupations requiring advanced educational levels.) A more appropriate comparison would be to look at how workers with equivalent educations are compensated in each sector. Here are the numbers from the Economic Policy Institute. Note that these numbers include both wages and non-wage benefits such as health care and pension.

You can find the source for this chart, as well as further explanation by clicking here.