Federal employee pay raise 2022

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I said it before--raise the SES Cap by $50-75k and it would temporarily fix the compression issue. That's an easier fix than overhauling the pay system (which needs to happen, but won't)

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I said it before--raise the SES Cap by $50-75k and it would temporarily fix the compression issue. That's an easier fix than overhauling the pay system (which needs to happen, but won't)

That's not all the easy of a fix either, though. $225-$250k would not be an unreasonable salary for level IV senior executives IMO. But raising SES Level IV by $50,000 would be a 29% increase for political appointees. That wouldn't be popular at all, especially if rank-and-file feds got only the usual 0%-3% raise. I just don't see that getting political support.

If you're talking about raising the cap but not the SES itself—like saying the limit gets changed to 115% of SES Level IV—that would require a new law. At that point, it might be easier (though by no means easy) to remove the cap entirely. And it would have GS-15s making more than their SES bosses. So that's probably not happening, either.

Allowing SES to get locality pay would make some sense and also fix the compression problem, but it could also be painted as giving political appointees a great big raise.

Honestly, I don't see a politically feasible fix short of a pay system overhaul (which, as you point out, isn't happening either). No one other than GS-15s are all that converned about the plight of GS-15s (including many of us who are GS-15s and see it as part of the price of government service).

[Anonymous]

I must be the only fed who is pleased with my salary and job. I don’t even care about bonuses. At this point I just want interesting work and to be treated well. I am a supervisor and it’s a bit thankless but the alternative is worse. I at least can control my division’s work, get briefed by senior management on issues and generally know what’s going on. I had avoided management for a long time. 3 months of the boss from hell and I accepted a managerial positions. Never again will I have a boss like that. I love running the program how I see fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I said it before--raise the SES Cap by $50-75k and it would temporarily fix the compression issue. That's an easier fix than overhauling the pay system (which needs to happen, but won't)

That's not all the easy of a fix either, though. $225-$250k would not be an unreasonable salary for level IV senior executives IMO. But raising SES Level IV by $50,000 would be a 29% increase for political appointees. That wouldn't be popular at all, especially if rank-and-file feds got only the usual 0%-3% raise. I just don't see that getting political support.

If you're talking about raising the cap but not the SES itself—like saying the limit gets changed to 115% of SES Level IV—that would require a new law. At that point, it might be easier (though by no means easy) to remove the cap entirely. And it would have GS-15s making more than their SES bosses. So that's probably not happening, either.

Allowing SES to get locality pay would make some sense and also fix the compression problem, but it could also be painted as giving political appointees a great big raise.

Honestly, I don't see a politically feasible fix short of a pay system overhaul (which, as you point out, isn't happening either). No one other than GS-15s are all that converned about the plight of GS-15s (including many of us who are GS-15s and see it as part of the price of government service).

well it's certainly the easiest of all of the solutions. They are already incrementally raising the SES pay anyway. No matter which way you slice it will be a tough sell to the taxpayer. I bet 90 percent of taxpayers don't think any federal employee SES or GS 5 should make more than $50k a year, lol. While the sell is tough, I think raising SES pay can easily be justified. If it were me--I'd focus on the career employee vs the political. every detail doesn't have to be divulged. I don't think a 15 should make more than any SES--the same way I think a 14 shouldn't make more than a 15 and so on. I am a 15. I manage 200+ million budget with 136 FT. I have zero SES aspirations. I have enough headache. I've had a few SES bosses that sucked, but even then I still don't think I should make more than them. at one point in my career I did make more than my SES (only for 2 years). he was pissed and delegated more things to me "since you make more than me."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I must be the only fed who is pleased with my salary and job. I don’t even care about bonuses. At this point I just want interesting work and to be treated well. I am a supervisor and it’s a bit thankless but the alternative is worse. I at least can control my division’s work, get briefed by senior management on issues and generally know what’s going on. I had avoided management for a long time. 3 months of the boss from hell and I accepted a managerial positions. Never again will I have a boss like that. I love running the program how I see fit.

I'm a 15 step 5 and generally pleased with my salary and flexibilities. I will always take extra coins though

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it supposed to match inflation?

Without matching inflation, we get a pay cut.

It typically is close to inflation, sometimes below and sometimes above. But there is no rule that it has to match inflation. Most private sector employees do not get a raise every year that accounts for inflation.

Many other public employees don't raises that match inflation. They sometimes experience pay freezes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:confirmed--SES tier 4 cap is raising to $176,300. So the 15 cap will be $176,300. So all y'all capped 15s will get a 4k raise. Happy now?!

You realize that still worsens the pay compression problem, don't you? What you're describing is what has been happening most years recently. The pay increases by roughly the same amount as the across-the-board increase, but that doesn't leave room for the adjustments to locality pay.

Yes, very soon the max of GS-14 and 15 are going to be pretty close in high locality areas like DC, SF, NYC, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:confirmed--SES tier 4 cap is raising to $176,300. So the 15 cap will be $176,300. So all y'all capped 15s will get a 4k raise. Happy now?!

You realize that still worsens the pay compression problem, don't you? What you're describing is what has been happening most years recently. The pay increases by roughly the same amount as the across-the-board increase, but that doesn't leave room for the adjustments to locality pay.

Yes, very soon the max of GS-14 and 15 are going to be pretty close in high locality areas like DC, SF, NYC, etc.

At some point soon step 10 14s will be capped. Maybe 3 more years at this rate?

[Anonymous]

I don’t care about a a raise of a couple thousand dollars.
I’m in it for the benefits.

[Anonymous]

Where is that executive order? It's December 20th already!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where is that executive order? It's December 20th already!

Usually comes at the very last minute. Won’t be any raise fue capped 15s, perhaps. Maybe one percent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t care about a a raise of a couple thousand dollars.
I’m in it for the benefits.

Which suck.

[Anonymous]

Has the increase been confirmed? At what % for DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t care about a a raise of a couple thousand dollars.
I’m in it for the benefits.

Which suck.

Educate yourself. The benefits are outstanding. Among them: If you make it to retirement, you can carry the health insurance for you and your partner for the rest of your lives. Best insurance coverage available. Full stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t care about a a raise of a couple thousand dollars.
I’m in it for the benefits.

Which suck.

Educate yourself. The benefits are outstanding. Among them: If you make it to retirement, you can carry the health insurance for you and your partner for the rest of your lives. Best insurance coverage available. Full stop.

That is definitely one of the key benefits for me. Plus pension plus social security plus tsp. We won’t be rich, but we’ll be just fine.