I think it depends on the position. Doctors and nurses at the VA could certainly make more in private sector.
Administrators/analysts/specialists probably are paid a bit better in the Public sector, and technical and administrative probably average.
Except in D.C....where everyone is overpaid.
Another LIE:
Federal pay ahead of private industry
Updated 3/8/2010 3:03 PM
Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-03-04-federal-pay_N.htm
If you assume that every doctor and every nurse has identical skills, and should be paid identically, then that comparison might be valid.
Who knows how many doctors at VA are there because they love their country and want to serve the vets, and how many are there because it's a lot easier job to get than a private-sector job where you have to prove yourself to make the big money.
On the other hand, the salary range for current job openings at VA averages $147,000, and has a high of over $200,000.
Meanwhile, a physician in a private practice might not be clearing nearly that much, because of overhead, regulations, malpractice insurance, and having to handle medicare and medicaid patients at a loss. There is a great advantage to having a salaried job that you can't lose.
In the private sector, doctors are merging practices, working longer hours, and struggling to make a profit, and Obamacare is just going to make it worse.