In his bid to significantly cut down the US federal budget, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has proposed drastic reductions in government spending. Among his ideas, he suggests a 30% reduction in the budget and the potential halving of the 2.3 million civilian federal workforce. If these proposals come to fruition, the cuts could severely affect various government agencies and the livelihoods of federal employees.
After his resounding victory, President-elect Donald Trump revealed that Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy will lead a newly established agency, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump enthusiastically introduced the pair, stating, “I am pleased to announce that the great Elon Musk, working alongside American patriot Vivek Ramaswamy, will head the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).”
Together, Musk and Ramaswamy are tasked with spearheading efforts to reform government spending. Their aim includes a proposed 30% reduction in the budget and a significant downsizing of the federal workforce, which currently consists of about 2.3 million civilian employees.
The White House personnel office reports that federal workers account for approximately 0.6% of the US population. Despite a 7% increase in workforce size since 2019—mainly due to new infrastructure projects funded by the 2022 infrastructure package—this figure remains smaller than historical peaks. For instance, the federal workforce represented 2% of the population in the 1940s and 1% in the 1960s.
Under Trump’s initiative, certain high-paying federal roles are under threat. According to an opinion piece by Musk and Ramaswamy in The Wall Street Journal, they aim to reduce ‘government spending and headcount at federal agencies’, putting many government workers’ jobs at risk. Occupations like medical officers, ship pilots, and general attorneys, which offer lucrative salaries, are likely under particular scrutiny.
To assess which roles have the highest salaries, a Business Insider report looked into data from the US Office of Personnel Management. Here’s the data showing the highest-paying job-roles in the federal workforce as of March 2024.
Top 10 highest-paying federal roles
The highest-paying positions within the federal government are primarily occupied by professionals with specialized skills and advanced education. Topping the list is the Medical Officer role, which boasts 38,007 employees earning an impressive average annual salary of $282,317. Following closely are Securities Compliance Examiners, who earn an average of $218,845; however, they represent a smaller workforce with only 441 individuals in this position.
Next on the list is the Dental Officer, with 2,270 professionals receiving an average salary of $212,516. Administrative Law Judges, responsible for adjudicating significant legal matters for federal agencies, earn an average of $201,336, with a workforce of 1,506. Rounding out the top five are Podiatrists, who have an average salary of $192,767 from a pool of 890 employees.
Get the latest news that takes place in the education sector in India. Find the extensive coverage of various topics including top universities and colleges in India, school reopening, in-depth exam analysis, and more. Stay up to date with The Times of India for the newest updates on CBSE, ICSE, Board exams, competitive exams, date sheet, admit card, exam analysis, results, admissions, colleges, etc.
