In 2023, federal, state, and local governments spent $2.4 trillion on employee compensation. This amounts to an average of $18,328 from every household in the nation. Adjusted for inflation, the average hourly compensation of government employees rose by 39% between 1991 and 2020. At least six recent studies that account for workers’ benefits, education, experience, and skills have found that federal employees enjoy a significant advantage in compensation over their private-sector counterparts.