200k independent contractor or 110k fed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good responses here about the specific question posed in the title.

But since we seem to have a quorum of technical space folks, this seems like a good place to plug FFRDCs -- Aerospace and JPL are the two that come to mind for your field. [I don't know how big JPLs presence is in this area, other than knowing that it's non-zero. I have two team members now that are JPL employees.] In particular, I'd be surprised if you encountered the same attitude towards 'retooling gov't engineers' that you've experienced so far. The work at this companies is exclusively (or darn close to it) government focused, with a high concentration of technical work and a low amount of biz dev work. I've found it's the sweet spot for my interests and technical field (not space) and it's definitely different from other options discussed upthread. It's not without its downsides (still somewhat at the whims of sponsors, definitely some of the stodginess of gov't and none of the thrill of startups, etc) but worth taking a look.

Went through this whole discussion planning to add this. You could also consider the studies and analysis FFRDCs if you want to stay in the DC area. CNA, IDA, and RAND. APL is nearby in Maryland. MITRE might be a possibility as well. Interesting work even if you won't be plotting Rich Purnell maneuvers.

Agreed, FFRDCs do offer a chance to do interesting work and a chance to do real innovation in a more nimble organization

But going to focus of original OP, I don't think they pay appreciably better. I think a senior manager type would top out at $180k? That is what my colleagues report at least! A nice bump from $115, but probably have to put time in to make it that high and never get a real bump as might see in private?

Why are you only making 115 as a fed? GS 15s make up to 161,900 -- not a lot but much closer to the 200 numbers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good responses here about the specific question posed in the title.

But since we seem to have a quorum of technical space folks, this seems like a good place to plug FFRDCs -- Aerospace and JPL are the two that come to mind for your field. [I don't know how big JPLs presence is in this area, other than knowing that it's non-zero. I have two team members now that are JPL employees.] In particular, I'd be surprised if you encountered the same attitude towards 'retooling gov't engineers' that you've experienced so far. The work at this companies is exclusively (or darn close to it) government focused, with a high concentration of technical work and a low amount of biz dev work. I've found it's the sweet spot for my interests and technical field (not space) and it's definitely different from other options discussed upthread. It's not without its downsides (still somewhat at the whims of sponsors, definitely some of the stodginess of gov't and none of the thrill of startups, etc) but worth taking a look.

Went through this whole discussion planning to add this. You could also consider the studies and analysis FFRDCs if you want to stay in the DC area. CNA, IDA, and RAND. APL is nearby in Maryland. MITRE might be a possibility as well. Interesting work even if you won't be plotting Rich Purnell maneuvers.

Why go to FFRDC when you can get to GS15 Step 10 by simply being able to breathe fo twenty years?
Agreed, FFRDCs do offer a chance to do interesting work and a chance to do real innovation in a more nimble organization

But going to focus of original OP, I don't think they pay appreciably better. I think a senior manager type would top out at $180k? That is what my colleagues report at least! A nice bump from $115, but probably have to put time in to make it that high and never get a real bump as might see in private?

Re: pay & FFRDCs. I think you'd really have to dig into details (much like the ind contractor vs fed analysis) to conclude much of anything. If salary is truly the most important criteria, then no, FFRDCs probably aren't the right place. But then again, neither are the big private/commercial companies, at least not at this stage in a persons career. An advantage of FFRDCs is that the work can stay technical (maybe more technical management) through an entire career with salaries pushing $200k, without ever having much of any business development demands or up-or-out pressures. I weighed options about two years ago when I made a similar change, and the benefits at my FFRDC (particularly monetary ones -- health costs and retirement contributions) more than made up the salary difference. You'd really need to look at specifics, and then try to decide how much you value stability. It's true that probability of high salary - at least temporarily (several years) - is probably higher in the private/commercial sector.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here, agree with 615 and thanks all for the discussion points! I really don't think I need to market myself much, I'm an 29 year old aerospace engineer focused on orbital mechanics. Not many of us and space is a growing field, think SpaceX. Have a wife and young child dependant on me so risk is a big deal, although I could survive 6 months with no pay and not dip into retirement savings. I've been a huge saver.

I'm probably going to stay fed for now and see what else comes up. Maybe a mid-size contracting firm would be great to get the feel for a smaller place. Wish I knew how to get ahead, but i know staying fed wont do it since years of service seem to matter more than productivity.

You are young, no need to give up on like and be a fed, do that when you are over 60

Silliness. Contractors have very little say and are forced to shine the boots of Feds

If you value money, you are a contractor. If you value being the decision maker and stability you go fed. Money wins in our home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good responses here about the specific question posed in the title.

But since we seem to have a quorum of technical space folks, this seems like a good place to plug FFRDCs -- Aerospace and JPL are the two that come to mind for your field. [I don't know how big JPLs presence is in this area, other than knowing that it's non-zero. I have two team members now that are JPL employees.] In particular, I'd be surprised if you encountered the same attitude towards 'retooling gov't engineers' that you've experienced so far. The work at this companies is exclusively (or darn close to it) government focused, with a high concentration of technical work and a low amount of biz dev work. I've found it's the sweet spot for my interests and technical field (not space) and it's definitely different from other options discussed upthread. It's not without its downsides (still somewhat at the whims of sponsors, definitely some of the stodginess of gov't and none of the thrill of startups, etc) but worth taking a look.

Went through this whole discussion planning to add this. You could also consider the studies and analysis FFRDCs if you want to stay in the DC area. CNA, IDA, and RAND. APL is nearby in Maryland. MITRE might be a possibility as well. Interesting work even if you won't be plotting Rich Purnell maneuvers.

Agreed, FFRDCs do offer a chance to do interesting work and a chance to do real innovation in a more nimble organization

But going to focus of original OP, I don't think they pay appreciably better. I think a senior manager type would top out at $180k? That is what my colleagues report at least! A nice bump from $115, but probably have to put time in to make it that high and never get a real bump as might see in private?

Why are you only making 115 as a fed? GS 15s make up to 161,900 -- not a lot but much closer to the 200 numbers

Because, if you read through the thread, you would discover that OP is a 29 yo aerospace engineer. Not many 29yo 15's are there? He is probably a 13 step 7. Frankly, that is pretty good at 29. I do not know many 29 yo's making more than that (lawyers are doctors excepted)

He is also being hounded by his wife to earn more.

[Anonymous]

I've been an IT contractor for many years now - I've done 1099 (both SSN and EIN), corp2corp, and w2 hourly. I would recommend you go the contractor route for now. You're young, so it'll be easier for you to switch contracts and follow more interesting work. Additionally, you will enjoy better pay and additional tax writeoffs. Most importantly, you can negotiate a better rate later on - imagine if you do good work - you could easily ask for say a 10-15-20 hourly bump in the rate. With govt job you're pretty much stuck at same pay for years. Go to govt when you're 45+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been an IT contractor for many years now - I've done 1099 (both SSN and EIN), corp2corp, and w2 hourly. I would recommend you go the contractor route for now. You're young, so it'll be easier for you to switch contracts and follow more interesting work. Additionally, you will enjoy better pay and additional tax writeoffs. Most importantly, you can negotiate a better rate later on - imagine if you do good work - you could easily ask for say a 10-15-20 hourly bump in the rate. With govt job you're pretty much stuck at same pay for years. Go to govt when you're 45+.

That is a terrible advice. At that age, you won't have time to build your retirement pkg - pension, TSP,..etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been an IT contractor for many years now - I've done 1099 (both SSN and EIN), corp2corp, and w2 hourly. I would recommend you go the contractor route for now. You're young, so it'll be easier for you to switch contracts and follow more interesting work. Additionally, you will enjoy better pay and additional tax writeoffs. Most importantly, you can negotiate a better rate later on - imagine if you do good work - you could easily ask for say a 10-15-20 hourly bump in the rate. With govt job you're pretty much stuck at same pay for years. Go to govt when you're 45+.

That is a terrible advice. At that age, you won't have time to build your retirement pkg - pension, TSP,..etc.

Correct, you start in government and move to private after your pension is set. Not the other way around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been an IT contractor for many years now - I've done 1099 (both SSN and EIN), corp2corp, and w2 hourly. I would recommend you go the contractor route for now. You're young, so it'll be easier for you to switch contracts and follow more interesting work. Additionally, you will enjoy better pay and additional tax writeoffs. Most importantly, you can negotiate a better rate later on - imagine if you do good work - you could easily ask for say a 10-15-20 hourly bump in the rate. With govt job you're pretty much stuck at same pay for years. Go to govt when you're 45+.

That is a terrible advice. At that age, you won't have time to build your retirement pkg - pension, TSP,..etc.

I think you folks are close-minded. Terrible advice is to be making twice less for many years as a fed. As a contractor you can set up a sep ira or solo 401k and fork away $50k+ per year tax free.

[Anonymous]

I also think OP is actually the wife of the person.

Independent only works in a few conditions:

1) the person has a skill set that is in demand (e.g., some aspects of IT) and companies are not able to hire someone.

2) the person is able to split time across multiple programs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good responses here about the specific question posed in the title.

But since we seem to have a quorum of technical space folks, this seems like a good place to plug FFRDCs -- Aerospace and JPL are the two that come to mind for your field. [I don't know how big JPLs presence is in this area, other than knowing that it's non-zero. I have two team members now that are JPL employees.] In particular, I'd be surprised if you encountered the same attitude towards 'retooling gov't engineers' that you've experienced so far. The work at this companies is exclusively (or darn close to it) government focused, with a high concentration of technical work and a low amount of biz dev work. I've found it's the sweet spot for my interests and technical field (not space) and it's definitely different from other options discussed upthread. It's not without its downsides (still somewhat at the whims of sponsors, definitely some of the stodginess of gov't and none of the thrill of startups, etc) but worth taking a look.

Went through this whole discussion planning to add this. You could also consider the studies and analysis FFRDCs if you want to stay in the DC area. CNA, IDA, and RAND. APL is nearby in Maryland. MITRE might be a possibility as well. Interesting work even if you won't be plotting Rich Purnell maneuvers.

Agreed, FFRDCs do offer a chance to do interesting work and a chance to do real innovation in a more nimble organization

But going to focus of original OP, I don't think they pay appreciably better. I think a senior manager type would top out at $180k? That is what my colleagues report at least! A nice bump from $115, but probably have to put time in to make it that high and never get a real bump as might see in private?

Why are you only making 115 as a fed? GS 15s make up to 161,900 -- not a lot but much closer to the 200 numbers

Because, if you read through the thread, you would discover that OP is a 29 yo aerospace engineer. Not many 29yo 15's are there? He is probably a 13 step 7. Frankly, that is pretty good at 29. I do not know many 29 yo's making more than that (lawyers are doctors excepted)

He is also being hounded by his wife to earn more.

Engineers aren't as competitive as lawyers and even supervisors don't necessarily get to be GS 15. We have 4 GS15 positions at my technical office of 300 civil servants. Everyone else is GS14 or below, even folks managing a technical team of 40 people and millions of dollars in hardware.