Quote:
Originally Posted by ColdNoMore
The salaries paid to firefighters, police, teachers, the military and others that provide a great public service....have always been ridiculously low in my opinion.
The problem of course, is that wages are pretty much driven by what it takes...to get qualified people to fill those positions.
Comparing professional athletes and entertainers, with these jobs...just isn't realistic.
Team owners don't want to pay any more than they need to either, but will do it based on what they think they have to shell out to fill the seats.
And therein lies the big problem.
Athletes/entertainers are paid on what they can make their owners (ROI), whereas dedicated public servants are considered a 'necessary evil'...by those who want their taxes to stay low.
Is it fair that most plumbers make more than a cop or firefighter?
Not in my book...but yet they do.  |
I'm truly not arguing BUT you need to look at the total COMPENSATION PACKAGE. Retirement age, 401K, 403B, medical care.
Someone mentioned a comparison to NY. As an ex-New Yorker you may not be aware what the cost of living is.
It is far higher than here. A former friend was with JC Penny. They offered a 20% raise to anyone who had to move to NY metro area. Those that checked found out due to the higher cost of living their standard of living would fall. We paid a 6% state tax plus ???? 2% for a non resident NYC tax. To get to work was $150 a month to the LIRR. The real estate tax on our 1200 sq foot house on a 50x100 lot was $10,000.