Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 23:05     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
OP here. His job and agency are stable but like one of the previous posters shared- nothing feels stable after the past year. Large bank wants to hire him and there is likely potential for management in the longer term. He will make a bit more than his current salary pre-bonus. He wants to move to give it a try, for some more balance and flexibility (current role is really intense) and long term higher earning potential.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 12:41     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Do you need the money as a family? If you are behind on loans, retirement, etc, then maybe he should look for something with a MUCH higher salary. If not, maybe focus on finding other things in life -- if you have kids, coaching the team, or picking up a hobby. Keep the stability and build on life outside of the office.


How can you consider federal employment stable after this past year??


It depends very much what position one has, its geographic location, and the specific agency / office / org.

I know of multiple places that are exempt from the hiring freeze and very stable. I will not name them publicly to avoid having them get targeted.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 11:49     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
Anonymous wrote:Do you need the money as a family? If you are behind on loans, retirement, etc, then maybe he should look for something with a MUCH higher salary. If not, maybe focus on finding other things in life -- if you have kids, coaching the team, or picking up a hobby. Keep the stability and build on life outside of the office.


How can you consider federal employment stable after this past year??
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 10:46     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
Do you need the money as a family? If you are behind on loans, retirement, etc, then maybe he should look for something with a MUCH higher salary. If not, maybe focus on finding other things in life -- if you have kids, coaching the team, or picking up a hobby. Keep the stability and build on life outside of the office.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 10:38     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
Anonymous wrote:I quit my federal job during the start of this current administration because I was fed up with DOGE, etc. I am a lawyer and had maxed out my pay at GS 15 for five years. I so very much miss the easy life of a federal employee. While I worked hard, it was so little compared to private sector. That said I was really not working in my full potential and the salary cap was starting to take a toll. Now I'm making 30% more than my federal salary not including bonus and working about 15 hrs more a week. My efficiency will improve as I get more up to speed and my salary will continue to increase more than inflation. Federal employees just don't get paid enough in certain fields. And while the work is interesting its usually to sub specialized to be marketable broadly. If he wants to just be comfortable at his current salary till retirement he should keep the job. If he wants to make more money and be more marketable he should get out when he is able.


Is your bonus significant like 50%? Because 30% bump just covers the pension. And you are working 30% more… so is your total comp $300k+?

Salary increase could make it worthwhile, that can be a steep climb, but if over 40 its a risk in a corporate environment but at least law tends to be less ageist.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 10:16     Subject: Re:Fed to Private Sector
It's better to wait until retirement eligibility and then move at the earliest opportunity, with the cushion of a federal retirement income and health care benefits to fall back upon if things don't work out. The tradeoff then is giving up the potential for a somewhat higher eventual government annuity, due to more years of service, in favor of an immediately higher compensation package in the private sector. There's risk, but it can be worth taking.

if you leave the government before retirement eligibility, and a private sector role doesn't last long, you may be hosed. The risk in this scenario is very high. It may only be worth taking if you have a good Plan B, e.g. a significant spousal income such that your potential unemployment in a year or so would not be devastating to your long-term financial security.

Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 09:44     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP here-large, corporate, financial- very stable. He is an economist.


Still very context-dependent. Litigation generates significant money for economists, but only in certain fields. A macro or finance person may draw interest from financial firms. Someone like a USDA economist will have a somewhat tougher time drawing interest from firms that would directly value the government work he has done. Economists with strong empirical skills are valued by a slew of companies, e.g., Amazon, Google, or government contractors. But the market for economists is weak right now, as both university and government hiring are way down, so at least at the moment he'll end up competing with a bunch of very strong new PhDs that would get academic or government jobs in a more normal year.

He should maybe start with any firms he interacted with in the course of his government service?


+1. I’m PP 07:17 asking about type of economist and this is why.

I was an economist (macro) in the government and left as a GS-15 for an IFI, which pays better but it still fairly stable with a public sector component. However, there is strong demand for “our” type in private sector finance; it comes with much, much higher pay but much less job security. So I was curious what OP meant by “large, corporate, financial—very stable.” The only thing in my world that is large and financial plus very stable is insurance. Everything else large and financial will fire you at a moment’s notice and not even because you did anything wrong, they may just want to cut costs.

Also echo this PP on the job market for economists. The WSJ just had this yesterday: “Economists Are Studying the Slowing Job Market—and Feeling It Themselves
Newly minted Ph.D.s tend to work for universities, government agencies and big white-collar companies. It’s not a great hiring time for any of them.”

https://www.wsj.com/economy/jobs/economists-job-market-hiring-2213807b?st=vWh3tq&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 09:28     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
Anonymous wrote:OP here-large, corporate, financial- very stable. He is an economist.


Still very context-dependent. Litigation generates significant money for economists, but only in certain fields. A macro or finance person may draw interest from financial firms. Someone like a USDA economist will have a somewhat tougher time drawing interest from firms that would directly value the government work he has done. Economists with strong empirical skills are valued by a slew of companies, e.g., Amazon, Google, or government contractors. But the market for economists is weak right now, as both university and government hiring are way down, so at least at the moment he'll end up competing with a bunch of very strong new PhDs that would get academic or government jobs in a more normal year.

He should maybe start with any firms he interacted with in the course of his government service?
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 09:01     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
I would not leave the GS-15 in that situation. I might lateral within civil service to a different agency or office (e.g, for shorter commute or for less unpaid O/T, or more interesting work).

Somewhere around age 45-50, age discrimination becomes very common in the private sector. Yes, age discrimination is illegal, but it also is nearly impossible to prove in court. It is common for commercial firms to have periodic layoffs and also common for many of the people laid off to be 45+ years old. At that age, finding a new job in the commercial sector can be very tough for anyone laid off. Commercial sector layoffs need not be "for cause" and there is no appeal process or seniority bumping protections - unlike the civil service.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2026 08:49     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
I quit my federal job during the start of this current administration because I was fed up with DOGE, etc. I am a lawyer and had maxed out my pay at GS 15 for five years. I so very much miss the easy life of a federal employee. While I worked hard, it was so little compared to private sector. That said I was really not working in my full potential and the salary cap was starting to take a toll. Now I'm making 30% more than my federal salary not including bonus and working about 15 hrs more a week. My efficiency will improve as I get more up to speed and my salary will continue to increase more than inflation. Federal employees just don't get paid enough in certain fields. And while the work is interesting its usually to sub specialized to be marketable broadly. If he wants to just be comfortable at his current salary till retirement he should keep the job. If he wants to make more money and be more marketable he should get out when he is able.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 07:17     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
Anonymous wrote:OP here-large, corporate, financial- very stable. He is an economist.


What type of economist? Macro, labor, ag, stats, etc? They aren’t interchangeable at an experienced level and the type will dictate your exit opportunities.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 23:51     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
Anonymous wrote:OP here-large, corporate, financial- very stable. He is an economist.


So he has a PhD and is over 15 years? So he’s in his 40s?

Thats tough; a lateral move could be a pay cut, are you factoring in pension value ($30k is usual estimate)?

He is nearing age where lay off risk escalates — so if he exits he needs to maybe take a lateral but have a clear path and plan for promotion to leadership level, director or higher. Executive would be great.


He should know that the data crunching and analysis of economists is less valued now because regulation is disappearing and AI tools can do a lot of raw work, with executives interpreting the answers more or less. Its probably not better but its the new trend to try.

Is he at a targeted agency for closure like Ed or EPA?
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 21:27     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
OP here-large, corporate, financial- very stable. He is an economist.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 21:08     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
This is so context dependant upon his field and the economic condition of the company he intends to go to.
Anonymous
Post 01/17/2026 21:02     Subject: Fed to Private Sector
My partner is thinking of leaving after more than 15 years. He is a GS 15 but hasn't had a raise in about 13 years since nowhere to go. Looking at private sector opportunities but maybe a lateral move initially, with long term potential for more significant increases since salaries aren't capped. Should he do it?