I think you've got it backwards. Pay was good and benefits were shit. Increasing benefits and stagnant wages plagues public employees these days. Take the Houston Fire Department for example.
You can also stick a butter knife in the meat. If it's goes in with little resistance, it's done. Or you can just cut a chunk off and eat it. Don't necessarily need a thermometer to cook meat. Those aren't always accurate. Hard to beat taste and feel.