Why does DC Govt jobs pay so little?

[Anonymous]

I did an interview for a DC govt job I knew the pay would be low but benefits were bad.
No real pension. They put 5 percent aside in a cash balance account with a long vesting period.
No bonus.
No 401k match.
Crappy office.
10 year vesting on some stuff. Meaning who can afford to take a huge pay cut fit a decade. And how does that attract experienced people.

The job paid around 30k less than a Fed or SEC job on pay with way less benefits and way less prestigious. How do they attract people.

Usually low pay you have good benefits, bonus, great working conditions.

I was suprised I was to have a full staff and run a 8 person dept.

Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

I work for the DC government, and I think my job is well-paid. Compared to many feds at my same level of experience, I make considerably more. The salary scale is typically included in the job posting, were you somehow surprised at the scale? I did find that the offer within the salary range was based purely on what I was making before (so I got the highest step and grade allowed for the position). Maybe it just wasn’t the right fit for you. What agency was it?

[Anonymous]

How much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for the DC government, and I think my job is well-paid. Compared to many feds at my same level of experience, I make considerably more. The salary scale is typically included in the job posting, were you somehow surprised at the scale? I did find that the offer within the salary range was based purely on what I was making before (so I got the highest step and grade allowed for the position). Maybe it just wasn’t the right fit for you. What agency was it?

I work for DC government too and I make a little less than what I would to do the same job on the federal side but not that much less. There was a period of time where there was huge disparity between pay for DC gov and the feds though. The retirement is fully vested after 5 years, and considering its money on top of your salary that they put in with no contribution from the employee, I don’t find that to be ridiculous. I have no idea what benefits don’t vest until 10 years. We do get performance bonuses, but it is government so it’s not a Biglaw level bonus, it’s a percentage of your salary. Do the people you would be managing a favor, if you consider this job to be so much less than, don’t take it.

[Anonymous]

OP It it is so less pay. I was working at a GSE and I got a 40 percent bonus and 8 percent 401k match. No vesting period.

This is a big pay cut I can handle, but surprised only 5 percent on retirement with a vesting period. I have not worked at a company with vesting in a match in years.
The 10 year is I think if you want to continue on their medical (full pay) at retirement. That’s a perk as cobra only 18 months.

Staff at Fannie and Freddie in their late 20s who WFH with no stress make more. This is running a whole department. At Fannie or Freddie it would pay 150k to 200k more identical level and responsibilities at a GSE.

Medical was not amazing either. I had a job offer at Swift in Manassas too that paid less as a non profit financial services utility. But they gave 100 percent free medical, dental. Nothing out of pay check, iPhone, 6 percent match.

I guess I was assuming if salary very low benefits very good. It seems to have neither.

Yes I knew salary was low. I was hoping for good benefits and pension. Seems only Union folks get that. This is a non union job.

Other issue is how do you attract good staff? With day care costs, commute to DC when they go back to office on 10-1 pretty much none of the working moms can afford to work there.

I am not shooting for moon but it is a somewhat dangerous and very hard job as agency deals with low income folks and huge housing projects and a boat load of work to get done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much?

120k-165k, top end need to jump through hoops for approval. Not horrible. But it is no bonus and weak benefits and job level

[Anonymous]

It's apparent that they can't attract good staff.

[Anonymous]

its a city job.

put in 5-6 hours a day, you'll seem like an over achiever.

maybe bored

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP It it is so less pay. I was working at a GSE and I got a 40 percent bonus and 8 percent 401k match. No vesting period.

This is a big pay cut I can handle, but surprised only 5 percent on retirement with a vesting period. I have not worked at a company with vesting in a match in years.
The 10 year is I think if you want to continue on their medical (full pay) at retirement. That’s a perk as cobra only 18 months.

Staff at Fannie and Freddie in their late 20s who WFH with no stress make more. This is running a whole department. At Fannie or Freddie it would pay 150k to 200k more identical level and responsibilities at a GSE.

Medical was not amazing either. I had a job offer at Swift in Manassas too that paid less as a non profit financial services utility. But they gave 100 percent free medical, dental. Nothing out of pay check, iPhone, 6 percent match.

I guess I was assuming if salary very low benefits very good. It seems to have neither.

Yes I knew salary was low. I was hoping for good benefits and pension. Seems only Union folks get that. This is a non union job.

Other issue is how do you attract good staff? With day care costs, commute to DC when they go back to office on 10-1 pretty much none of the working moms can afford to work there.

I am not shooting for moon but it is a somewhat dangerous and very hard job as agency deals with low income folks and huge housing projects and a boat load of work to get done.

Your posts beg the question of why it is you are considering taking this job.

[Anonymous]

So you applied to the DC government for a public service position because you’re looking for a cush job with a big fancy office, bonus potential, retirement match and who knows what else? Okkkkkkkkkkkk

Also your comment that the job deals with housing and “low income” folks and is therefore “somewhat dangerous” - oof check yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did an interview for a DC govt job I knew the pay would be low but benefits were bad.
No real pension. They put 5 percent aside in a cash balance account with a long vesting period.
No bonus.
No 401k match.
Crappy office.
10 year vesting on some stuff. Meaning who can afford to take a huge pay cut fit a decade. And how does that attract experienced people.

The job paid around 30k less than a Fed or SEC job on pay with way less benefits and way less prestigious. How do they attract people.

Usually low pay you have good benefits, bonus, great working conditions.

I was suprised I was to have a full staff and run a 8 person dept.

Am I missing something?

[Anonymous]

Maybe the low salary reflects your poor writing/grammar abilities?

[Anonymous]

https://dchr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dchr/publication/attachments/public_body_employee_information_123118.pdf


Wow. Layers with 20 years experience making 150k! What type of lawyer makes 150k 20 years of experience?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://dchr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dchr/publication/attachments/public_body_employee_information_123118.pdf


Wow. Layers with 20 years experience making 150k! What type of lawyer makes 150k 20 years of experience?

Are you clueless? 150k would be above most AUSA salaried and about average to only slightly below average at Main Justice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://dchr.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dchr/publication/attachments/public_body_employee_information_123118.pdf


Wow. Layers with 20 years experience making 150k! What type of lawyer makes 150k 20 years of experience?

Are you clueless? 150k would be above most AUSA salaried and about average to only slightly below average at Main Justice.

This. You max out at 170 or so currently as an attorney with DC government and that is on par if not more than the feds.