Should I take a big pay cut for a government job offer?
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Anonymous
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I work for a name brand government contracting firm with decent benefits, work/life balance, interesting work, good supervisor, and relatively good job security (for the industry though you never know in contracting). I'm quite happy where I am and am on path to promotion.
Just got a government offer for what in the past would have been an absolute dream job (think foreign service / intel). But it entails a huge pay cut and I'm somewhat less interested in (this) gov job than in the past, especially given current events (involves constant international travel/living abroad). I'm also getting older (pushing 40) and am not so sure about making a change at this point in my life. Kinda at a loss here. Any advice from the board? Current salary: $135k Government offer $87k |
Anonymous
| NO |
Anonymous
| How close are you to retirement? |
Anonymous
| No |
Anonymous
| I had the same thing happen to me recently with same numbers as you. they were able to bump me up a couple more steps but it was still 30k less than what i was making. If I was closer to retirement (am 15 years away), I would have considered it. |
Anonymous
I plan to work at least another 25 years. The pension benefit does look valuable. |
Anonymous
| That is not a pay cut, that is an insult. Is there any way you would be promoted in the gov job? It would be a no for me. |
Anonymous
| No way. You should only leave your job for a better one, which usually means a higher salary. Doesn’t sound like a better job. Less money. |
Anonymous
| Yes. |
Anonymous
| If you’re going to travel and have you live abroad, you will do it early and the government will pick up your expenses - housing, etc. After a few years your new salary will have moved up and if you are smart, you will have banked much of your earlier salary. It’s apples and oranges. I took a job like that and in my low earning years I lived on the government’s dime. Came home and had a downpayment saved. |
Anonymous
Most people who head to government take a pay cut. There are other benefits, such as job security, which looks pretty valuable right now. |
Anonymous
OP here - yep, I'm very aware of the government benefits while living abroad. I do have those sorts of options in my current job as well but of course huge prestige difference in being a contractor vs. 'real' government employee. Definitely struggling with this choice as this offer was a life-long dream of mine but the pay cut just feels insulting. |
Anonymous
Well, right now I’m getting paid and our contractors are not if they don’t have a generous company, and most of them are not. Looks like they’re bringing you in at an 11 or 12. That’s normal for entry. You will get past that fairly quickly. I know $135k sounds like a lot, but you will top,out in contractor land. |
Anonymous
| Negotiate. This is an offer. |
Anonymous
OP should try and she may get a bit more, but there isn’t usually a whole lot of room with government offers. |