Anonymous wrote:There is an equation that weighs years and type of experience and, the average pay for similar people currently in your position, etc.

I would love to know this equation

My agency has huge pay bands. (PP, there are many agencies that do not follow the GS schedule, so grades are irrelevant.). That being said, we have a very firm pay-setting policy within that band that does not allow for negotiation. There is an equation that weighs years and type of experience and, the average pay for similar people currently in your position, etc. Somthere wouldn't be negotiation over dollar amounts, but you could try to argue that you have more relevant experience than they are crediting you as having.

If the range is that broad, it sounds like it encompasses several grades, and gives the minimum for the lowest grade and the maximum for the highest. The questionnaire for the job will probably give some indication of what grade you qualify for, and you can Google the GS schedule to see what range you're actually looking at.

It is based on your salary history to start, then you can try to negotiate.

i am interviewing for a government job and the listed pay band is SO broad - it lists 60k to 120k. i have done my research and know where i think i should be within this range, but i am wondering if since it is the govt they have very specific criteria to determine where within this range you would be? or is it all negotiable? for example, do they start at 60k for min experience then say, oh she has a masters, that is another 10k, she has 5 years experience, add on another 15k.. that puts her at $85k, etc etc? basically i am curious how much "wiggle room" there is for negotiation or if they will tell me flat out - based on the formula you can get paid $x because you have xyz experience.