*grump* NOT a good time for THIS particular question to come up; so if I am rude, sharp, or otherwise offensive, please remember that THIS particular "civil servant" has had one extremely nasty day, including a threatening phone call.

The "Civil" part comes from the same place as does the "civil" in "Civil Center" -- implying community. The "servant" part because primarily civil servants are in service positions or service occupations.

When the occupation happens to be one that is ALSO in the private sector, the pay tends to be less. [note: I CHOSE to go out of the private sector....though my salary is about 1/3 to 1/5 of what I could make in the private sector I also realize I would have to move to the city in order to make that. I refuse.--but occasionaly I wish I could make the bigger bucks] Civil service jobs tend to be hampared by lack of staff, ridiculous requirements and red tape. This alone makes for frustration and short tempers. AND civil servants have to deal with the public. frequently. constantly. endlessly.

All I can say is, if you haven't been there, don't complain until you have been. I was in service industries in the private sector for decades, and thought it was frustrating dealing with the general public then. Believe me, dealing with the public as a civil servant is 10 times worse. but I do have some job security.