The number of federal workers earning six-figure salaries has exploded during the recession, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal salary data.

Federal employees making salaries of $100,000 or more jumped from 14% to 19% of civil servants during the recession's first 18 months — and that's before overtime pay and bonuses are counted.

Federal workers are enjoying an extraordinary boom time — in pay and hiring — during a recession that has cost 7.3 million jobs in the private sector.

Even retired federal workers are enjoying increases:
  • A 5.8% increase was just granted to retirees, the largest increase since 1982. Some federal retirees receive more in pensions now than they were earning 20 years ago, and they receive health care for themselves and qualified family members.
  • They often work in private industry after they retire and can qualify for Social Security benefits and a private pension.
  • In some cases, retirees may be hired on a contract basis while drawing their retirement.
  • Federal employees can retire with generous pensions after only 30 years of service.

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