Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been at the top of the GS-13 for a while now. I have been promised that a new job will be created at the GS-14 for a while now too, but whatever.

For the past 4-5 years that I've been at Step 10, I have received outstanding ratings and have been awarded $2500-$3500 each time since I couldn't have a merit raise.

I'm pretty happy to see the 2020 pay tables that someone recently posted here! That helps.

-- Signed, an outstanding yet increasingly apathetic fed worker who probably should have moved on years ago

So you have been at the top of the scale for your grade for 4-5 years, and haven’t secured a new position at a higher grade? Whether one is promised to you or not, you have to seek out opportunities, even if it means leaving your agency or going out of your comfort zone. What is stopping you from moving on, especially if you are such an outstanding performer?

Perhaps you have weighed the benefits to a Fed career (pension, stability, reasonable health insurance costs, etc.) and decided to stay. If so, there is no shame in that, but you shouldn’t be apathetic - you’ve made that choice. Your agency, your team deserves an employee who is fully committed to the mission.

If you feel you are under-compensated for the value you bring, by all means look elsewhere. Just know that many private sector firms also operate with pay and structures, and it generally takes much more effort and proven results to move to the next level. The grass may be greener, but isn’t always.

- - Signed a Fed who continues to outperform because it is my work ethic, and I am grateful for the perks I enjoy now that I didn’t have in the private sector.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been at the top of the GS-13 for a while now. I have been promised that a new job will be created at the GS-14 for a while now too, but whatever.

For the past 4-5 years that I've been at Step 10, I have received outstanding ratings and have been awarded $2500-$3500 each time since I couldn't have a merit raise.

I'm pretty happy to see the 2020 pay tables that someone recently posted here! That helps.

-- Signed, an outstanding yet increasingly apathetic fed worker who probably should have moved on years ago

So you have been at the top of the scale for your grade for 4-5 years, and haven’t secured a new position at a higher grade? Whether one is promised to you or not, you have to seek out opportunities, even if it means leaving your agency or going out of your comfort zone. What is stopping you from moving on, especially if you are such an outstanding performer?

Perhaps you have weighed the benefits to a Fed career (pension, stability, reasonable health insurance costs, etc.) and decided to stay. If so, there is no shame in that, but you shouldn’t be apathetic - you’ve made that choice. Your agency, your team deserves an employee who is fully committed to the mission.

If you feel you are under-compensated for the value you bring, by all means look elsewhere. Just know that many private sector firms also operate with pay and structures, and it generally takes much more effort and proven results to move to the next level. The grass may be greener, but isn’t always.

- - Signed a Fed who continues to outperform because it is my work ethic, and I am grateful for the perks I enjoy now that I didn’t have in the private sector.

Anonymous wrote:I have been at the top of the GS-13 for a while now. I have been promised that a new job will be created at the GS-14 for a while now too, but whatever.

For the past 4-5 years that I've been at Step 10, I have received outstanding ratings and have been awarded $2500-$3500 each time since I couldn't have a merit raise.

I'm pretty happy to see the 2020 pay tables that someone recently posted here! That helps.

-- Signed, an outstanding yet increasingly apathetic fed worker who probably should have moved on years ago

Anonymous wrote:Making 170 a year with stability and a pension at the end is a decent gig. You could do a lot worse!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 15-10, you get an annual pay raise if that becomes law (base; not the locality component) and a cash bonus if your agency gives out bonuses. Other than that ... it’s pretty much just people gossiping about when you’ll be leaving so they can compete for your 15.

This is it. Was wondering if I would get a raise at all this year despite a top rating.

I have never given my salary much of a thought before but am finding this situation depressing. And our expenses increase each year more than the bands move so its like a pay cut.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 15-10, you get an annual pay raise if that becomes law (base; not the locality component) and a cash bonus if your agency gives out bonuses. Other than that ... it’s pretty much just people gossiping about when you’ll be leaving so they can compete for your 15.

This is it. Was wondering if I would get a raise at all this year despite a top rating.

I have never given my salary much of a thought before but am finding this situation depressing. And our expenses increase each year more than the bands move so its like a pay cut.

Absent a qsi, there are long waits to get within grade increases. I suppose that, as very seems likely to happen, a Democratic president and Democratic Congress will give feds a meaningful pat raise for 2022. But a maxed out 15 will always only get the base component of such a raise. That’s been 1.4 or 1.0 percent in recent times. It might be 2.6 for 2020, but that’s all still a mystery and nobody knows. So basically, yes, you have to decide whether to give up the federal job or take a risk in the private sector.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At 15-10, you get an annual pay raise if that becomes law (base; not the locality component) and a cash bonus if your agency gives out bonuses. Other than that ... it’s pretty much just people gossiping about when you’ll be leaving so they can compete for your 15.

This is it. Was wondering if I would get a raise at all this year despite a top rating.

I have never given my salary much of a thought before but am finding this situation depressing. And our expenses increase each year more than the bands move so its like a pay cut.

Anonymous wrote:At 15-10, you get an annual pay raise if that becomes law (base; not the locality component) and a cash bonus if your agency gives out bonuses. Other than that ... it’s pretty much just people gossiping about when you’ll be leaving so they can compete for your 15.