Florida Public Employees Make $9,009 More Than Private-Sector Workers, Benefits Included

Florida public-employee unions fighting budget cuts face a tough public-relations battle as word spreads that government workers in the state earn an average of $9,009 more than their private-sector counterparts.

A USA Today analysis shows that the average salary and benefit package for government workers in Florida -- including teachers -- is $58,749. The private-sector average is $49,740.

That $9,009 compensation gap is far wider than the national average of $2,511 in the state-by-state analysis. Florida's differential is also much bigger than that found in Wisconsin ($1,802), where public-sector workers continue to agitate against Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to limit their collective-bargaining privileges.

Only three states -- Hawaii, Rhode Island and Nevada -- had wider compensation gaps than Florida.

In all, average government employee compensation is higher than that of the private sector in 41 states.

See state-by-state figures here.