Reply to Former GS15s, tell me about becoming SES/PA or going private sector

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[quote=Anonymous]In my executive branch agency, what I’ve observed is about a 7% bump from your current GS 15 pay. The bonuses are significantly better than a GS 15:i.e. top Level bonus for a GS 15 annually is about $6000 and it’s closer to $15K for a junior SES - net about &9K after taxes. So purely from a pay perspective, you’re probably looking somewhere around $400 increase per paycheck over 26 pay periods. The real difference is whether you have the stomach for the political aspects the HR issues at the higher levels and of course your work life balance, which takes a pretty big hit. Several colleagues of mine have taken the SES route and are tied 24 seven to their government phones and it includes many weekend hours to catch up due to meetings during the week. I think it really depends where you are in your career because after a long military care career for me it just isn’t worth it for the extra $ as I prefer my weekends off to spend with my wife, play golf or go on trips w/o stress. But if you’re midcareer with 10+ years to go nd can get the years in to build up the percentages for your pension (1% of the differential per year) and sock away your bonuses, you might find it worth the headaches and the extra hours. But having been private sector also between my military and my federal career, I’d argue that if money is your primary focus, then you are better going private sector after you’ve accumulated the years to qualify for a GS pension since the balance will be about the same so why not get paid more if that’s the goal? A manager/senior manager, much less Director or partner, makes as much or more than an SES and probably less political headaches, and after our stress. My two cents observations…[/quote]

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