The typical federal worker is paid 20% more than a private-sector worker in the same occupation.
Median annual salary:

Federal Private Difference
$66,591 $55,500 $11,091

These salary figures do not include the value of health, pension and other benefits, which averaged $40,785 per federal employee in 2008 vs. $9,882 per private worker, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Sources: Bureau of Labor statistics, USA TODAY analysis