At what age did you make it to the maximum GS scale?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:29, at OMB there is a career ladder from 9-15 for non-supervisory program examiners so if you start as a 9 at age 24 you can be a 15 when you’re 29. It’s absurd, a big reason that OMB is so highly graded even for non-supervisors.

We sure do 😄 but ask us what hours we work …with no overtime pay or any fun extras.

To answer OP, GS15 at 35.

People at OMB tell themselves this, that they’re the smartest and hardest working people in government. That’s why they promote themselves quickly and every single supervisor is an SES. I was there for a few years then I went to an agency where we had actual customer demands and did real tangible work, which was much harder, required more hours but was also more rewarding.

You are replying to me and I did say we work hard but not that we’re the smartest. You could do that work and deliver because we spent hours figuring out budgets and management policies that would (to extent possible) promote mission and not interfere.

To everyone else, the handful of supervisors are SES because they deal with direct politicals …aka the President’s folks. And we have a 15 ladder but not every year, there are certain steps we need to hit first before we can be considered for a GS increase. Oh and we’re pretty freaking motivated by civil service and our mission but who isn’t

Have you ever worked at any other agency besides OMB? We have tons of GS14s and 15s who deal directly with politicals, aka the President's folks. We are doing our work despite your interference while tolerating your breathtaking arrogance that your band of mighty budgeteers empowers us all. There are around 8000 SES in all of government for 2.1 civil servants, about 1 in 250. At OMB it's around 1 in 10 with SES managing small groups of examiners while reporting up multiple layers. The only reason you have so many is that you set it up that way decades ago, it would never pass the laugh test if OPM were doing a normal desk audit and those of us who deal with OMB regularly think it's a joke.

I have, at least two distinct agencies and the scale is not comparable, at all, even if closer to the taxpayer. But you’d know if you worked here, and it sounds like maybe that wasn’t a fit for you.

[Anonymous]

And with that, it’s now my turn and time to log in for some work, budget season after all!

To OP: don’t look at age, look at opportunities always to advance to next GS, you can always grow, meet new mentors, and have an end goal. Then when you have the GS15, you have the time and flexibility to look at options for the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:42 with 15 years of service.

Looking at a long 15 years with no pay raises if nothing changes.

there are always the FIRREA agencies. I started at one at 40 in at gs14-equiv position but at the top of the GS payscale. Now at the SEC, which gives any merit increases over the pay cap as a cash bonus. (So, it can't count to increase your pension, but you at least get the cash.) Though I'm currently still around $5k from the salary cap for my position, so that's still academic for me. I'll probably have to work for another 15 years as well.

[Anonymous]

Can into gov as attorney at 42 as GS-14 step 5 (second career, went to law school later), 15 after one year, maxed out at 46.

[Anonymous]

There are many people at USDS, DDS and 18F who come into government as GS-15 step 10s but leave after their 4 year term. Some of them are on their 20s

[Anonymous]

Age 32. GS 15-1. Have been at the salary cap since 39/40. About to hit 18 years. Will take stock after hitting 20. Work life balance can’t be best. Husband at an IC agency that has a hard time promoting due to only a certain number of positions. He gets awards and time off. Lots of recognition. Started as a GS10-1 at 30 is now a GS 14/10 at 48. It’s almost equivalent to a GS 15/4 so no incentive to move up- extra 10k is not worth the trade offs in time and headaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And with that, it’s now my turn and time to log in for some work, budget season after all!

To OP: don’t look at age, look at opportunities always to advance to next GS, you can always grow, meet new mentors, and have an end goal. Then when you have the GS15, you have the time and flexibility to look at options for the long run.

The hardest working federal employees were sleeping in tents last night after fighting wildfires, patrolling the border, or even cleaning all of our buildings. I hope you don’t get injured patting yourself on the back for logging in from home to review the latest CR spreadsheet. It’s this sort of cluelessness about what the rest of government does that makes OMB insufferable for those who have to deal with them.

[Anonymous]

32, hit GS 15-8 which was max then. I came in a specialized position from the private sector.