Former GS15s, tell me about becoming SES/PA or going private sector

[Anonymous]

Entered the fed service from the private sector as a maxed out GS-15. Moved to a premium pay agency after about 3.5 years. Was a fed for a total of about 8 years. Fed was never really a good cultural fit for me, despite loving the mission. I left for the private sector after a few relatively high-profile roles.

My comp initially changed from about $210/yr to about $350/yr base and bonus plus another $200/yr in equity. After a promotion to the c-suite, I'm now at about $1.5M/yr all in. Obviously, that's not common and I'm very fortunate. I work in cyber.

I ran the numbers on the retirement and pension factors. The normal retirement and benefits are generally equal. The pension is a loss when moving private, but when I did the calculations, I'd need "only" about another $30k in pre-tax comp to make up for it (assuming I saved that income).

I'll consider going back for the last couple years (55-57) of my working career. For a couple reasons in ascending order of importance:

1) I'd like to re-baseline my pension
2) I'd like to retire with medical benefits
3) I think it's important to cross-pollinate the public and private sectors, especially in cyber
4) I expect I will have made enough money by then that the massive pay cut won't bother me
5) I like the mission

[Anonymous]

PP above. I should add that, yes, I lost a lot of potential income as a fed, but I've obviously ended up in a great spot, so I don't regret the journey. And I had some interesting roles along the way.

Had my story ended differently, I'd likely regret going fed, obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What industry, PP? Sounds like you made a great decision.

technology. I kick myself for going federal- I lost so much income and it was really a dumb experience.

This is an old post, wonder if they survived the tech layoffs… not really an option now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought I wanted to go SES, and planned to… but then was offered a job out of the blue in the private sector for about $60k more than my max GS 15 salary. Realized it was more than I would ever make as an SES, even with max bonus, and that I would have so much more freedom and authority than I would ever achieve in government. Left thinking I could always go back… and then a few years later made another huge salary jump to stay in private. No brainer.

In my experience, private sector benefits are all over the map. Coming from 15 years as a Fed, I look for opportunities with great benefits and have been successful.

My friend went private for similar bump but was then laid off at 50. You need to go private young.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Entered the fed service from the private sector as a maxed out GS-15. Moved to a premium pay agency after about 3.5 years. Was a fed for a total of about 8 years. Fed was never really a good cultural fit for me, despite loving the mission. I left for the private sector after a few relatively high-profile roles.

My comp initially changed from about $210/yr to about $350/yr base and bonus plus another $200/yr in equity. After a promotion to the c-suite, I'm now at about $1.5M/yr all in. Obviously, that's not common and I'm very fortunate. I work in cyber.

I ran the numbers on the retirement and pension factors. The normal retirement and benefits are generally equal. The pension is a loss when moving private, but when I did the calculations, I'd need "only" about another $30k in pre-tax comp to make up for it (assuming I saved that income).

I'll consider going back for the last couple years (55-57) of my working career. For a couple reasons in ascending order of importance:

1) I'd like to re-baseline my pension
2) I'd like to retire with medical benefits
3) I think it's important to cross-pollinate the public and private sectors, especially in cyber
4) I expect I will have made enough money by then that the massive pay cut won't bother me
5) I like the mission

What does “I’m in cyber” mean. I’m a system integrator for NIST, and I have no idea how you jump into these technical roles making $Ms? What kind of actual work were you doing? Setting security policy? Selling cyber services to govt? Developing actual software?

[Anonymous]

DH went SES from GS15 and I left gov for private at GS15. FWIW we are lawyers.

DH works the same or less than he did before becoming SES. He has complete job security. The biggest pro was that he loves the job. No real cons aside from perhaps an increase in paperwork and the occasional pointless project.

I left at GS15 for a think tank-ish job. Made more money, but not much more, and hours decreased. If I had it to do over again I’d stay government. I never adjusted well to an environment that was not litigation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Entered the fed service from the private sector as a maxed out GS-15. Moved to a premium pay agency after about 3.5 years. Was a fed for a total of about 8 years. Fed was never really a good cultural fit for me, despite loving the mission. I left for the private sector after a few relatively high-profile roles.

My comp initially changed from about $210/yr to about $350/yr base and bonus plus another $200/yr in equity. After a promotion to the c-suite, I'm now at about $1.5M/yr all in. Obviously, that's not common and I'm very fortunate. I work in cyber.

I ran the numbers on the retirement and pension factors. The normal retirement and benefits are generally equal. The pension is a loss when moving private, but when I did the calculations, I'd need "only" about another $30k in pre-tax comp to make up for it (assuming I saved that income).

I'll consider going back for the last couple years (55-57) of my working career. For a couple reasons in ascending order of importance:

1) I'd like to re-baseline my pension
2) I'd like to retire with medical benefits
3) I think it's important to cross-pollinate the public and private sectors, especially in cyber
4) I expect I will have made enough money by then that the massive pay cut won't bother me
5) I like the mission

What does “I’m in cyber” mean. I’m a system integrator for NIST, and I have no idea how you jump into these technical roles making $Ms? What kind of actual work were you doing? Setting security policy? Selling cyber services to govt? Developing actual software?

I'm a CISO.

[Anonymous]

I started as a 15 attorney and became capped after about 5 years due to progression and QSIs.
I considered staying to be SES, which was feasible after a few more years, but the pay bump seemed modest, and the work life balance much worse.
I ended up going private, in house at a large tech company. I doubled and a then some my maxed 15 pay in total comp (base, bonus and equity). Since then my comp is now 2.75 times the 15 max.

I would say it was worth it, as my pay increased substantially and my hours are similar (DOJ). However I will randomly think about the pension and how if everything goes to crap I would be taken care of.

[Anonymous]

I am a maxed out GS-15 with about 12 more years to go in the gov. I have the opportunity to go SES but I just can't stomach it. The minimal pay increase does not seem worth the added stress and I'm concerned about the loss in job security as I have seen SES's get moved or pushed out. and I've heard the SES bonuses at my agency are not that high. Is it terrible that I'm happy having reached the highest level I can in the government and have no desire to go higher? My DH works for the private sector, so I feel like we already reap the benefits of that and I have no desire to go private. I just like having an engaging job where I can still see my family on the weekends and maintain some semblance of work/life balance. I feel a little bit like an unambitious loser but at this point in my life I'm not up for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Entered the fed service from the private sector as a maxed out GS-15. Moved to a premium pay agency after about 3.5 years. Was a fed for a total of about 8 years. Fed was never really a good cultural fit for me, despite loving the mission. I left for the private sector after a few relatively high-profile roles.

My comp initially changed from about $210/yr to about $350/yr base and bonus plus another $200/yr in equity. After a promotion to the c-suite, I'm now at about $1.5M/yr all in. Obviously, that's not common and I'm very fortunate. I work in cyber.

I ran the numbers on the retirement and pension factors. The normal retirement and benefits are generally equal. The pension is a loss when moving private, but when I did the calculations, I'd need "only" about another $30k in pre-tax comp to make up for it (assuming I saved that income).

I'll consider going back for the last couple years (55-57) of my working career. For a couple reasons in ascending order of importance:

1) I'd like to re-baseline my pension
2) I'd like to retire with medical benefits
3) I think it's important to cross-pollinate the public and private sectors, especially in cyber
4) I expect I will have made enough money by then that the massive pay cut won't bother me
5) I like the mission

What does “I’m in cyber” mean. I’m a system integrator for NIST, and I have no idea how you jump into these technical roles making $Ms? What kind of actual work were you doing? Setting security policy? Selling cyber services to govt? Developing actual software?

I'm a CISO.

So are you a CISO C-level exec at like Adobe or something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Entered the fed service from the private sector as a maxed out GS-15. Moved to a premium pay agency after about 3.5 years. Was a fed for a total of about 8 years. Fed was never really a good cultural fit for me, despite loving the mission. I left for the private sector after a few relatively high-profile roles.

My comp initially changed from about $210/yr to about $350/yr base and bonus plus another $200/yr in equity. After a promotion to the c-suite, I'm now at about $1.5M/yr all in. Obviously, that's not common and I'm very fortunate. I work in cyber.

I ran the numbers on the retirement and pension factors. The normal retirement and benefits are generally equal. The pension is a loss when moving private, but when I did the calculations, I'd need "only" about another $30k in pre-tax comp to make up for it (assuming I saved that income).

I'll consider going back for the last couple years (55-57) of my working career. For a couple reasons in ascending order of importance:

1) I'd like to re-baseline my pension
2) I'd like to retire with medical benefits
3) I think it's important to cross-pollinate the public and private sectors, especially in cyber
4) I expect I will have made enough money by then that the massive pay cut won't bother me
5) I like the mission

97% of GS15 are not ending up C-level position.

I’m guessing you are a tall white male?

Much more relevant to hear about lateral and gradual advancement which is more likely.

I would be curious when you left if you are only 50s now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a maxed out GS-15 with about 12 more years to go in the gov. I have the opportunity to go SES but I just can't stomach it. The minimal pay increase does not seem worth the added stress and I'm concerned about the loss in job security as I have seen SES's get moved or pushed out. and I've heard the SES bonuses at my agency are not that high. Is it terrible that I'm happy having reached the highest level I can in the government and have no desire to go higher? My DH works for the private sector, so I feel like we already reap the benefits of that and I have no desire to go private. I just like having an engaging job where I can still see my family on the weekends and maintain some semblance of work/life balance. I feel a little bit like an unambitious loser but at this point in my life I'm not up for it.

There's nothing wrong with that at all. I feel the same way.
But, maybe look at details and extra skills so you don't get stale over 12 years. Work-life balance us great, calicifying isn't. And keep an eye on job postings because IME they will add things to your plate until you're working as much as the SES anyway. I changed agencies to shake things up and start fresh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

97% of GS15 are not ending up C-level position.

True. Thus why I said my experience isn't common and that I'm fortunate.

Anonymous wrote:I’m guessing you are a tall white male?

Correct. I understand what you're implying, but I think the degree to which that serves as an advantage varies from person to person. I was bullied, in part, because of my appearance as a child and there are elements of my adult look that are non-conformist/divergent so I genuinely don't know if my appearance is now to my benefit.

And at this point my demographic is not as much of an advantage as it used to be given the interest (rightfully so) in projecting diversity among senior leadership. I'll struggle to find a board position, for example. I can assure you that, all things being equal, most employers would jump at the chance to hire traditionally underrepresented populations into executive roles - mine included. Unfortunately, the percentage of qualified individuals from those communities is artificially low due to legacies of systemic prejudice as I imagine you are well aware.

Anonymous wrote:Much more relevant to hear about lateral and gradual advancement which is more likely.

The OP didn't specify criteria for relevancy.

Also, when I was a fed and pondering exit options, this board (and some networking) opened my eyes to how lucrative the private sector could be. It was inspirational and motivated me to strive for more than I would have otherwise. That's been to my benefit, and perhaps my story can be for others.

Anonymous wrote:I would be curious when you left if you are only 50s now?

I left in my mid-40s a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a maxed out GS-15 with about 12 more years to go in the gov. I have the opportunity to go SES but I just can't stomach it. The minimal pay increase does not seem worth the added stress and I'm concerned about the loss in job security as I have seen SES's get moved or pushed out. and I've heard the SES bonuses at my agency are not that high. Is it terrible that I'm happy having reached the highest level I can in the government and have no desire to go higher? My DH works for the private sector, so I feel like we already reap the benefits of that and I have no desire to go private. I just like having an engaging job where I can still see my family on the weekends and maintain some semblance of work/life balance. I feel a little bit like an unambitious loser but at this point in my life I'm not up for it.

I’m you in a few years, having been a non-supervisory GS15 for over a decade and feeling the pay cap more and more every year. The SES roles in my agency don’t look that much more stressful but they just don’t look like fun at all, and the pay is just too similar. I probably should have left for private years ago but now feel too close to retirement. My ambition is pushing me to keep moving even though it’s probably unwise. This may happen to you too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

97% of GS15 are not ending up C-level position.

True. Thus why I said my experience isn't common and that I'm fortunate.

Anonymous wrote:I’m guessing you are a tall white male?

Correct. I understand what you're implying, but I think the degree to which that serves as an advantage varies from person to person. I was bullied, in part, because of my appearance as a child and there are elements of my adult look that are non-conformist/divergent so I genuinely don't know if my appearance is now to my benefit.

And at this point my demographic is not as much of an advantage as it used to be given the interest (rightfully so) in projecting diversity among senior leadership. I'll struggle to find a board position, for example. I can assure you that, all things being equal, most employers would jump at the chance to hire traditionally underrepresented populations into executive roles - mine included. Unfortunately, the percentage of qualified individuals from those communities is artificially low due to legacies of systemic prejudice as I imagine you are well aware.

Anonymous wrote:Much more relevant to hear about lateral and gradual advancement which is more likely.

The OP didn't specify criteria for relevancy.

Also, when I was a fed and pondering exit options, this board (and some networking) opened my eyes to how lucrative the private sector could be. It was inspirational and motivated me to strive for more than I would have otherwise. That's been to my benefit, and perhaps my story can be for others.

Anonymous wrote:I would be curious when you left if you are only 50s now?

I left in my mid-40s a few years ago.

NP: Congrats on your success, PP! And I appreciate your balanced response—we need more of that evenhandedness and civility on this forum.