사회적 “임금” 비교가 공직만족도에 미치는 영향: 입직급수의 조절효과를 중심으로

Low compensation has been identified as a critical factor contributing to the high turnover of low-seniority public employees. Beyond serving as a means of acquiring necessary goods, wages are a significant indicator of achievement, recognition, and self-esteem, particularly in social comparison contexts. People often evaluate their actual wages against their deserved wages. In this regard, this study aims to empirically examine the impact of wage comparisons with the private sector on public sector satisfaction from the standpoint of social comparison. The findings reveal that perceived adequacy of compensation relative to the private sector significantly influences public sector satisfaction with job security, career prospects, and job status. Specifically, it suggests that the more respondents perceive their wages as adequate compared to the private sector, the more their satisfaction with job security, career prospects, job status, and overall public sector satisfaction significantly increases. Also, these effects varied depending on the entry level.