Private-sector evidence plan
A Broad Wage Average Is Not an Industry Counterpart.
The current BLS series is broad context, not an occupation-matched comparison. Until comparable roles, qualifications, geography, experience, and total-compensation measures are assembled, occupation-specific gaps remain Evidence needed.
ActualForecastAssumptionInterpretation
Last reviewed August 22, 2026
What the numbers show
- No occupation-specific private-pay percentage is published from the broad BLS average.
- CBO's 2024 analysis finds that federal-private comparisons vary substantially by education and worker characteristics.
- Engineering, program management, contracting, cybersecurity, logistics, and financial management require separate matched evidence.
Occupation-matched evidence register
| Field | Current status | Required matching dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering | Evidence needed | Discipline, clearance, experience, location, supervisory scope |
| Program management | Evidence needed | Portfolio size, acquisition phase, authority, experience |
| Contracting | Evidence needed | Warrant level, portfolio complexity, certifications, location |
| Cybersecurity | Evidence needed | Work role, clearance, certifications, on-call burden, location |
| Logistics | Evidence needed | Commodity, system complexity, readiness responsibility, location |
| Financial management | Evidence needed | Function, credentials, portfolio size, supervisory scope |
CBO context
CBO's April 2024 analysis compares federal and private-sector workers with similar observable characteristics. It reports lower average federal wage costs for workers with a bachelor's degree or more and higher average federal benefit costs for most education groups. That national analysis is necessary context, not a substitute for matching a specific acquisition or technical role.