High Pay and Low Morale — Can High Pay, Excellent Benefits, Job Security, and Low Job Satisfaction Coexist in a Public Agency?

This article focuses on the unexpected relationship between high pay and low job satisfaction in one public sector agency. The results of an Employee Opinion Survey of agency employees are examined in light of the agency's position as a community pay leader. The author concludes that high pay will not alleviate problems of low employee job satisfaction. The use of career anchors is suggested as a means to increase employee job satisfaction and to maintain acceptable turnover levels even in the absence of high pay.