federal employee pay raise 2025

[Anonymous]

Meanwhile, the SEC just cancelled their extra supplemental 3 percent TSP. Which is effectively a huge pay CUT. Expect a big brain drain there soon (actually started a couple years ago).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year's was historically high. So we all got a morale boost and now it will average out to just normal bump in COLA. We really can't complain, that combined with reliable step increases not tied to performance is a pretty sweet deal.

It is? Maybe for a middling run of the mill employee. High performers are underpaid and will continue to be. The 5k max bonus at my agency for a 15 is sad.

The cola wasn’t a morale boost either. It didn’t even keep up with inflation. We need a few more 5% increases just to do that.

We also get pensions, so private sector employees aren't crying for us...

New employees now pay 4.4% for that pension, and that makes the pension neutral from an actuarial perspective. In other words, those employees would do just as well getting to keep that money and invest it in the stock market.

DP I see the 4.4 as a wash with the TSP 5% match so it's not that bad to me. I like that part of my retirement is defined benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year's was historically high. So we all got a morale boost and now it will average out to just normal bump in COLA. We really can't complain, that combined with reliable step increases not tied to performance is a pretty sweet deal.

You assume everyone is a GS employee. Many are not, and often only get COLA increases per year. It blows. Inflation will come in around 2.8-3+% this year. A COLA at or below that is essentially no raise or a pay cut

Which pay systems don't?

[Anonymous]

Agree that the job security is great but the pay at the highest levels continues to fall behind (down over 20% in real terms since those 2010-era pay freezes hit). I left three years ago and don’t regret it.

[Anonymous]

I regret slightly not working in private industey and banking $$ at a younger age, but zero regrets now being at a finreg at 48 and earning 240k/yr for 40hrs max/week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last year's was historically high. So we all got a morale boost and now it will average out to just normal bump in COLA. We really can't complain, that combined with reliable step increases not tied to performance is a pretty sweet deal.

It is? Maybe for a middling run of the mill employee. High performers are underpaid and will continue to be. The 5k max bonus at my agency for a 15 is sad.

The cola wasn’t a morale boost either. It didn’t even keep up with inflation. We need a few more 5% increases just to do that.

PP, how do you know the max bonus at your agency?

DP but my agency has an award policy and lists the max bonus. It is 7500 for non-SES.

Is this one of the financial agencies that are not on the GS scale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who was laid off in my mid-50s and many months later landed what I consider to be a plum government position (non-supervisory GS14s6), I will take the security over higher pay any day. And the pay isn’t bad, considering.

Not much difference between GS 14 and 15s these days. As such, a lot of the supervisory 15s are leaving when given the opportunity. I just lost two 15 attorneys to private and one 15 to a government agency not using the GS scale.

[Anonymous]

Can someone answer the OPs question? Is it really 2% for 2025?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can someone answer the OPs question? Is it really 2% for 2025?

Yes

https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/06/feds-still-slated-2-average-pay-raise-2025-house-appropriations-bill/397389/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the trade off for never worrying about layoffs.

Government should also worry about retaining good employees.

[Anonymous]

Last year's inflation rate was 4.1%, how would government justify a 2% raise?

[Anonymous]

Dang. The gap for people with advanced degrees is 22%. That’s not going to keep top people working for the federal government.

[Anonymous]

Problem is that federal Govt has too many positions and loafers and that's why top performers suffer. If they can base their performance appraisal more like a private sector then people won't leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A few years ago, we got no raise or 1% raise under Obama, so I'm sort of used to it.

There was no inflation at that time but the case now is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the trade off for never worrying about layoffs.

Government should also worry about retaining good employees.

Yeah, it happens and more specialized field such as Phd STEM, doctor, lawyer you are in, less you get paid as compared to your peers in private sector.