Is your pay a matter of public record?

If you have wondered how much your boss or co-worker makes, you may have an easy way to find out.

Although the new pay rate database at FedsDataCenter.com—which contains public pay rate data from the Office of Personnel Management—does not list the pay of every fed (national security concerns), it sure does list it for a lot of them. You’re probably in there, too.

What you find in the database could make you feel either better or worse, depending on your point of view

We tried it for a few folks we know, and were a bit surprised—both at how much and how little—some people make.

Where you live is a factor. Feds in the capital region—Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia—are among the most well-paid, on average. But of course, the “average” pay in those states is affected by the large number of high-ranking feds in the mix compared to other areas of the country, and the higher cost of living in the region.

But go ahead. Look, if you dare …