Why does everybody think Feds are so underpaid?
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Anonymous
Exactly. I can't believe what our admin people make. |
Anonymous
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DH's job. Private: 120K Fed: 90K Except that the private company cut corners systematically and was borderline fraudulent, and the Fed department is thorough and serves its clients well. DH prefers staying in a environment that values quality. |
Anonymous
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Want to add that for DH, it's exactly the same number of hours, so he's definitely paid less now. |
Anonymous
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I am a PhD scientist, 20 years experience. I had been supporting the same organization for much of my career. There has been a recent push to reduce contractors, and bring the work in house. My position was advertised as the 13/14 level, even though I am currently paid comparable to a 15 (155K).
I figured for the security and improved benefits, a high-step 14 would be ok, so I applied. I was offered the position as a 13 step 1, which I negotiated to 13 step 5. Still, 40 % less than I make now. So, I refused the offer. They ended up with someone hey are not happy with, and are still buying my time. |
Anonymous
I haven't gotten a salary increase in the past 5 years. I'm making exactly the same amount. With inflation, I'm now making less than I was 5 years ago, and it's beginning to really affect my life. |
Anonymous
| I saw a nurse practitioner job located at a military base, think it was Belvoir, and the salary was well over $100K. Private sector NPs sometimes make that much, but not very often. |
Anonymous
Sorry - it is not like the original question was snide or anything.  I was responding in the tone of the original question.
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Anonymous
No, in your perception of the tone. No need to be defensive. It was an honest question. |
Anonymous
| In general, federal employee (both civil service and contractor) salaries drift towards the mean. This means that lower end employees are paid more than their private counterparts and high end employees are paid less. So, admins, housekeeping, maintenance, security, logistics/transportation/warehouse staff are all paid more than their counterparts get paid in the private sector. However, most professional, executive and managerial positions are paid less, often much less. I'm in federal IT and frankly, most of my peers with the same level experience as I have are making about 150-175% of what I make. While I do work more hours than average (usually 45-50 hours per week), it does not compare to the often 60+ hour weeks of many that I know doing my job in the private sector. I'm quite happy with the lower salary as my job is significantly more family friendly that I'd have it if I were working for a corporation. |
Anonymous
| The Fed employees get awesome retirement packages that are almost non existent for private sector. They also can work 40 hour week. |
Anonymous
Only if they started working more than 25 years ago under the old retirement system. |
Anonymous
Totally depends on the job. I know many Feds who works considerably more. |
Anonymous
Yeah no. Both of my parents work for large corporations and their retirement packages are WAY better than ours. One of my uncles is under CSRS and he does have an awesome retirement package. I think mine will be 1/3-1/4 of what he's currently getting and I had to contribute more to my pension. |
Anonymous
Under the "old" system - you are right. However, I doubt that many Feds on this board are under that system. My DH's prviate sector retirement plan is much better than mine. While I would say that my job is more fleixible than my private sector job was, I regularly work more than 40 hours a week. Depends on the job and the work. |
Anonymous
Sure, but you get comp time for it, I'm sure. If you're not getting it, at least you have the right to make a request. |