[wheaties]

They should break down that compensation according to positions. I once considered a government job until I saw that as a programmer I could make 18k more in industry. Over the years this has not changed considerably. This is vividly expressed by the remarks of the current red-headed poster child, minerals management services. There people could earn up to 2x their salary by going into private practice.

Where my own personal analysis has not considered is the defined pension plans (which I've always considered more of a liability due to their chronic underfunded nature.)

[smallblacksun]

The big difference is not in salary, but in benefits.