Defense CEOs vs. Workers: An Inequitable Picture

CEOs of the nation’s top aerospace and defense contractors are screaming in unison, telling all who will listen that the planned Pentagon spending cuts will devastate the lives of defense industry workers. Really? An analysis by POGO investigator, Ben Freeman, indicates that the concern may be more about their salaries and compensation packages than the well being of defense worker. Freeman’s research shows that the top five aerospace and defense contractor makes on average $21.5 million per year in compensation, which about 268 times what the average defense industry worker makes.

Check out the “Defense CEOs vs. Workers” graph (click here) and get the word out by sharing on Twitter and Facebook.

Katerina Canyon

Katerina Canyon serves as Executive Director of the Peace Economy Project, where she combines her passion for community advocacy, creative expression, and social justice to challenge militarization and uplift human-centered policy. Drawing on experience in tech, nonprofits, and international communication, she leads research and organizing focused on peace, accountability, and community investment. She is also a poet whose work explores trauma, resilience, and collective healing.