Why does everybody think Feds are so underpaid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree. Some teachers constantly whine. I mean, sorry, you went to college just like I did, you flaunt your master's degree in my face, frankly. You could have chosen a more lucrative career, but you didn't. If you took so much pride in contributing to society you wouldn't bitch so much. Many have never worked in an office but the believe based on nothing that their job is harder and if you try to say ANYTHING about your job they are personally offended. Then they say things like "do you really want to go there?" and the only answer is "no, because you will never understand and there is no point". Nevermind that they're directly insulting your job for no reason

I agree not every teacher does this, but I know the type to which the PP is referring.

and, btw, all jobs contribute to society and that's why they exist. Cops and volunteer firefighters don't bitch like some teachers!

where's the "I love my teaching job" poster? I love her.

I loved teaching but it was sacrificing too much of my time with my own children. 70 hours+/week was too much. I'm not the Pp claiming teachers contribute more than others, but hate the implication that teachers gets paid tons and basically do nothing.

Fwiw- I taught at a school with high Farms-90%+
~50% of my kids had a parent in a gang or were incarcerated,

Let me paint a brief picture of my 2nd classroom:
"my dad was taken to jail again last night."
"there was a bust at my dad's work, but he wasn't caught. He was home."
Father shot and killed by rival gang member 1 block from school. Mom abandoned this girl as an infant.
Child came to school with cigarette burns on thigh...reported to CPS.
Child tells me that she didn't sleep much the night before because they didn't have heat.

I just ask that you consider why these teachers may vent or "whine" about their job. Maybe those teachers have the opposite problem than I did... Bratty, entitled rich kids who have parents that show little respect for them. Teachers are educated, licensed professionals but are treated like scum of the earth.

Granted, as in any profession, there are lazy, incompetent, and awful teachers. Thank you for not generalizing your beliefs towards the entire profession.


Sorry for any typos!

[Anonymous]

This thread has devolved into a d*ck measuring exercise. Every profession has hard workers and skaters. Also grinders and whiners. No one knows what someone else goes through all the time, but there is tendency to give greater weight to one's own travails than others'. When that crosses over to belittling someone else's life and experiences, it may be crossing over the line. For those who indulge in this, perhaps there are more constructive ways to spend your valuable and scarce time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Compared to teachers, social workers, even nurses, you're making a mint. Why so much whining about the salary?

Teachers don't work the same hours as feds. They have summers and winter breaks.

Nurses are paid pretty well. My mom is a nurse and at part time she makes 80k.

Yes.

Teachers and nurses work far more hours and put in far more work than most feds. They do far more valuable work for the community at large than do most feds.

Did you really just go there?

PP here. Interesting. Take this statement to one of the Schools forum and see what kind of responses you get. Most people in those forums think that teachers getting the summer off means they have it easy. And please do not mention teachers deserving raises - pure pandemonium!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Compared to teachers, social workers, even nurses, you're making a mint. Why so much whining about the salary?

Teachers don't work the same hours as feds. They have summers and winter breaks.

Nurses are paid pretty well. My mom is a nurse and at part time she makes 80k.

Yes.

Teachers and nurses work far more hours and put in far more work than most feds. They do far more valuable work for the community at large than do most feds.

Did you really just go there?

Can't you just make a thread called "I don't understand what Federal employees do and therefore think they are useless?"

EXACTLY!! People like this have no idea how Fed employees positively impact their lives everyday. It is a shame. I am not taking anything away from teachers and nurses - my dad was a teacher and my mother is a nurse. They worked hard but even they are amazed at how long my days are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Compared to teachers, social workers, even nurses, you're making a mint. Why so much whining about the salary?

Teachers don't work the same hours as feds. They have summers and winter breaks.

Nurses are paid pretty well. My mom is a nurse and at part time she makes 80k.

Yes.

Teachers and nurses work far more hours and put in far more work than most feds. They do far more valuable work for the community at large than do most feds.

Did you really just go there?

While I agree that teachers are underpaid, the concept that they work so much harder than the rest of the working world is just ludicrous and only makes teachers look whiny. I know several dozen teachers very well and they do NOT work harder than the federal workers at NASA.

Thanks for the fruits of all that hard work - TANG

[Anonymous]

Yes, Tang. Clearly the most important fruit from the labor of NASA.

How do you even argue with that? It's so illogical.

And, yes, this conversation has been a "my job is harder than yours" issue. However, it didn't "devolve", it was part of the initial post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Granted, as in any profession, there are lazy, incompetent, and awful teachers. Thank you for not generalizing your beliefs towards the entire profession.

Oh, I know very well that excellent teachers exist. When I attend my daughter's IEP meetings I feel totally listened to and supported. She is provided support and I feel the teachers genuinely care about her progress. They will E-Mail me back over a vacation in the middle of the night. And I didn't expect a response.

There are also horrible teachers. Like there are horrible IT people, and horrible lawyers, and crooked police officers, and lazy Federal Employees.

These people all exist.

Thankfully, most people realize that isn't the "norm"......of any profession.

Most people are really getting up every day and going to a job that they feel is helping society in some way or another. Most people are at least trying to do a good job. And we put every day into it. More waking hours than we see our family, we spend at work. No one likes their job belittled. But there's always someone whining to everyone that spoils the pot and gives people the idea that "that's how it is...." in whichever field they're whining about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, Tang. Clearly the most important fruit from the labor of NASA.

How do you even argue with that? It's so illogical.

And, yes, this conversation has been a "my job is harder than yours" issue. However, it didn't "devolve", it was part of the initial post.

Yes, it all seemed to be based on the idea that pay should be related to how 'important' a job is or how 'hard' people work. Bah.

[Anonymous]

Who is whining? I'm perfectly content with my job and salary (and its not super high for this area).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Fed employees get awesome retirement packages that are almost non existent for private sector. They also can work 40 hour week.

Only if they started working more than 25 years ago under the old retirement system.

+1 Honestly I find that Joe Public has NO IDEA what the federal pension system is - they just think we get millions somehow....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Fed employees get awesome retirement packages that are almost non existent for private sector. They also can work 40 hour week.

Only if they started working more than 25 years ago under the old retirement system.

+1 Honestly I find that Joe Public has NO IDEA what the federal pension system is - they just think we get millions somehow....

I'm a fed and I think the pension package is pretty good although not as good as CSRS. Say you were retiring today under FERS with 25 years of service at age 65 and you made $100K (let's assume this salary was constant for the last three years given the pay freeze). You'd be getting $27,500 per year plus social security plus 401(k) draws. You won't be rich for sure but you'll be comfortable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Compared to teachers, social workers, even nurses, you're making a mint. Why so much whining about the salary?

Teachers don't work the same hours as feds. They have summers and winter breaks.

Nurses are paid pretty well. My mom is a nurse and at part time she makes 80k.

Yes.

Teachers and nurses work far more hours and put in far more work than most feds. They do far more valuable work for the community at large than do most feds.

Did you really just go there?

Just FYI -"Although many people (wrongly) believe NASA invented Tang®, the powdered orange drink mix does have a history that goes hand-in-hand with U.S. spaceflight.

Tang was originally made by General Foods in 1957, but its popularity reached new heights when it was chosen to fly with John Glenn on Friendship 7 and on later Gemini Program missions.

Now made by Kraft Foods, Tang® is still going strong, with over 1 billion dollars in annual sales worldwide. Today, powdered drink mixes are still used onboard the ISS; they come in Mylar drink bags with special valves for rehydrating without leaking."


While I agree that teachers are underpaid, the concept that they work so much harder than the rest of the working world is just ludicrous and only makes teachers look whiny. I know several dozen teachers very well and they do NOT work harder than the federal workers at NASA.

Thanks for the fruits of all that hard work - TANG

[Anonymous]

Just FYI - " Although many people (wrongly) believe NASA invented Tang®, the powdered orange drink mix does have a history that goes hand-in-hand with U.S. spaceflight.

Tang was originally made by General Foods in 1957, but its popularity reached new heights when it was chosen to fly with John Glenn on Friendship 7 and on later Gemini Program missions.

Now made by Kraft Foods, Tang® is still going strong, with over 1 billion dollars in annual sales worldwide. Today, powdered drink mixes are still used onboard the ISS; they come in Mylar drink bags with special valves for rehydrating without leaking."

[Anonymous]

I don't think the feds are underpaid. I interact with a lot, including in person, especially downtown. While many are fine employees I see to many who are lazy, just putting in the days, months, years, until they can retire.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Huh? My husband could be making 750 or a million, yet he makes 220 as a fed with his education. That's why.

220? Hello, Mrs. Biden.

Uh, no. Try SEC, OCC, FDIC, FRB, CFPB, FHFA, FCA, NCUA.... there are plenty of fed agencies above the GS scale. Do a little research.

Okay, I did some research.

http://www.fedsmith.com/2013/04/29/locating-the-salary-of-an-individual-federal-employee/

There are some feds who make 220. They mostly are bankers, some are in HR. Some VA docs make 300-400.

If PPs point was that by being paid only 220, her husband is underpaid, is not very sympathetic. If you can make 1m+ at a firm or on Wall Street, that is a reflection of the incredible (and possibly insolvable) income inequality in this country, and doesn't really have much to do with government salaries.

What does this mean? That no one can make a high salary, even if they are highly trained and have very marketable skills? Is 220K the ceiling that no one should go over. That sounds pretty dumb.