basics the country s 21656200 government workers earned an average $ 51340 per year or $ 24 69 per hour as of may 2012 according to the u s bureau of labor statistics this compared with the $ 45230 or $ 21 74 earned by all 128278550 workers in all industriesverage salaries for all government employees differed by job category and title in 2011 the highest paying category belonged to management occupations where 1013310 professionals averaged $ 90960 annually or $ 43 73 per hour