GAO said that total government-wide compensation for each full-time equivalent position grew by an average of 1.2 percent per year, from $106,097 in 2004 to $116,828 in 2012; the latter figure reflects an average salary of $75,947 plus other forms of compensation such as various allowances and the value of benefits. Half of the growth in spending on total compensation 2004 to 2012 was due to more employees working in professional or administrative positions, “which often require specialized knowledge and advanced skills and degrees, and thus, higher pay,” GAO said. It noted that of the positions added during that time, about 52 percent were filled by persons having at least a master’s degree and another 41 percent by those having at least a bachelor’s degree; higher levels of education are similarly linked to higher pay. The growth in other forms of compensation largely reflected the government paying more as its share as FEHB premiums rose; that rise was in line with increases in private sector employer-sponsored health insurance, GAO added. For a closer look, go to www.fedweek.com/HFI in the free info section of our website.