Federal employment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For someone at 55 who is making 200K in a non-managerial role, is federal employment makes sense? Work is stressful and lot of office politics and not much pleasure. Don't feel like moving to another company as it may not be that different based on my 30 y experience.

Will pension and medical benefits in federal job with lesser stress for next 10 years is enticing?

Made a move from private firm to state government at age 41. Pay cut was huge for me: $135k to $88k. But I work 38 hours instead of 60-85. I have probably 15% of the stress I had before. Pay has crept back up to 110k now at age 43. It was worth it for me and my family--and I'm the sole breadwinner.

I now have the time to think about other things, which has replaced some of the income (rental property). I go to the gym. I have time for vacations and meeting my family at the lake at lunch. Do the math, but I'd do it over 100/100.

Are you saying you were able to start renting out properties once you switched jobs?

Either way, congrats on making this change!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd go for less money and stress, especially at 50+, with your experience you could easily get in as a GS-15 and in no time be mid range which is close to the $200K you're pulling in now. Experience is VALUED and RESPECTED with the feds.

BEST decision I made was to leave the Big 4 and that 24/7 work culture...I may work late 3-4 times a year (in budget) but my evenings and weekends and yep vacations that I can actually take, at Deloitte they idolized folk who would lose their accrued leave which was my cue to get the heck out of there!

How do you know OP can easily get in as a GS 15? OP only makes $200K in private sector. That does not seem that she has a lot credential to get a gs 15 unless she is an attorney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Actually you're right that it is mostly self-induced stress now that I reflect more. That said, post-retirement healthcare is the only part enticing, not even pension. How to evaluate federal medical benefits vs medicare? If I can earn 20-30k more at 65, can't I simply buy the medical plans to offset?

I made the move for post-retirement healthcare. We have well funded IRAs and my husband’s income is triple mine at a GS14, so taking a cut in pay made sense for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Actually you're right that it is mostly self-induced stress now that I reflect more. That said, post-retirement healthcare is the only part enticing, not even pension. How to evaluate federal medical benefits vs medicare? If I can earn 20-30k more at 65, can't I simply buy the medical plans to offset?

I made the move for post-retirement healthcare. We have well funded IRAs and my husband’s income is triple mine at a GS14, so taking a cut in pay made sense for us.

how much is the cut?