I've been a Fed for six years, married to another Fed. Must just be the particular people I come in contact with, but I've never heard money complaints from other Feds. On the other hand, when I was an entry level analyst at a mid sized contracting firm, we complained about being underpaid all the time.

Anonymous wrote:People in every industry complain about money. There is a high proportion of government workers concentrated in the DC area.

You're just having more interactions with people who work in the government than you have from people in other industries and are drawing conclusions about a million people based on your interaction with a dozen (or even just one, based on your example).

So no, I don't find that they complain about money

This is about right. I'm a former Fed (STEM PhD) whose salary tripled after leaving civil service for private sector. I don't really remember anyone complaining about money aside from things like multi-year pay freezes and furloughs. And c'mon, those are things people would complain about in any sector. Most people with advanced degrees who work in government are well-aware of the financial trade-offs that they are making. My biased observation is that attorneys complain more than others, but complaining is not the norm. Many attorneys find government work more satisfying or more lifestyle-friendly (or both).

A big difference though, is that in the private sector it's very taboo to talk about compensation so you won't discuss money as often with co-workers. Government transparency and standardized payscales help lift the taboo as a general matter. Everyone already knows what everyone else makes.

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that this I very comparative. I work in a pot of government where there aren't many lawyers, and the GS pyramid has a broad bottom (so not a lot of people are making 150 -160k), and nobody complains about money. Nobody. There isn't an illusion that you can make a bunch more in the private sector because the alternative employers are mainly nonprofits or state and local governments. We complain about bureaucracy all the time, though.

+1

Anonymous wrote:People in every industry complain about money. There is a high proportion of government workers concentrated in the DC area.

You're just having more interactions with people who work in the government than you have from people in other industries and are drawing conclusions about a million people based on your interaction with a dozen (or even just one, based on your example).

So no, I don't find that they complain about money

Yep. I am a govt atty and only know one, of dozens I am close to, who complains about money (she married into debt). I think your sample size is skewed.

I like my job and think I am fairly compensated for what I do. I did the Big Law thing for awhile so I know what I'm (not) missing. But Big Law also gave me a best egg for house and loans, and that makes a difference too.

People in every industry complain about money. There is a high proportion of government workers concentrated in the DC area.

You're just having more interactions with people who work in the government than you have from people in other industries and are drawing conclusions about a million people based on your interaction with a dozen (or even just one, based on your example).

So no, I don't find that they complain about money

Yep and always looking for the new golden goose government job with better benefits.

Anonymous wrote:I suspect that this I very comparative. I work in a pot of government where there aren't many lawyers, and the GS pyramid has a broad bottom (so not a lot of people are making 150 -160k), and nobody complains about money. Nobody. There isn't an illusion that you can make a bunch more in the private sector because the alternative employers are mainly nonprofits or state and local governments. We complain about bureaucracy all the time, though.

This. I've seen a LOT more complaining from people making 150-160k (don't know why - often they have delusions of being paid 400k in the private sector for their civil rights work) than I have from people making 75k in the gov't - bc I think those people realize that in the private sector maybe they could squeak out 80-85k but would risk being in a place that does layoffs, doesn't have a 401k match etc.

I suspect that this I very comparative. I work in a pot of government where there aren't many lawyers, and the GS pyramid has a broad bottom (so not a lot of people are making 150 -160k), and nobody complains about money. Nobody. There isn't an illusion that you can make a bunch more in the private sector because the alternative employers are mainly nonprofits or state and local governments. We complain about bureaucracy all the time, though.

Anonymous wrote:They could make so much more in the private sector, but are trading money for stability and benefits. The problem is, it's hard to see the value in stability and benefits when your school peers are buying second houses, fancy cars, or going on extraordinary trips.

So then go back to the private sector- why complain about it non stop? And for most lawyers that I know in the government "oh they can make millions in the private sector" is a pipe dream that will never happen. Sure for the financial regulatory types, the AUSA types, and those in 1-2 sections of DOJ that are useful, sure. But you're kidding yourself if you think that moving to super specific policy work or civil rights in the gov't will entitle you to come out and make biglaw or midlaw money.

The only thing they complain about more than money is the actual work.

They could make so much more in the private sector, but are trading money for stability and benefits. The problem is, it's hard to see the value in stability and benefits when your school peers are buying second houses, fancy cars, or going on extraordinary trips.

In my area, yes.

Generally speaking - yes.

No. I find your post obnoxious.

I've found it to be the case since I moved here last year. Today I ended up stuck in a conversation with a friend complaining about things like paying for parking and toll for a week. Thing is she's an attorney making 150-160k in the gov't AND is single income/no kids AND worked in biglaw for 5-6 yrs pre-govt. I get that she's a GS attorney and is kind of maxed out on salary now, but from what I can see this isn't someone living the high life. For example - she bought a townhouse in Alexandria at the very end of one of the train lines; this isn't someone paying $3000/month for their luxury rental in Rosslyn. And yet to hear the complaining, you wonder - wow are things really tough or is it just that gov't workers complain about money bc that's what they're supposed to do to show everyone how much they are "sacrificing" for their job.