If you have defense or cyber experience you can go to any large contractor and make great money

There is this massive misimpression among federal government employees that contractors are all rich fat cats. The labor rates on most government contracts by and large are not dissimilar to the GS scale. $300K plus is either some incredibly niche tech skillset or more likely it's the executives and corporate leaders, not the contractor sitting in the cubicle next to you.

Over the years I hired many retiring military officers and gs-15s who come in expecting to make bank and are shocked to find out that rank and file don't make more than they do, and in some cases make a lot less if their contract has low rates.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC salaries are low but the WLB is unparalleled.
Sure you get 300k in west coast or NYC but you don’t get to eat dinner on time!

WFH, eat dinner any time.

WFH now and my Bloomberg, teams, email + workphone are all going off.

DH has worked for several gov cons and the only people making over $300k are the execs (obvs) and the top 1-2 people in each department. He has been the #2 lawyer at several of them and barely breaks $300k. His boss typically makes $450k or more.

Anonymous wrote:DC salaries are low but the WLB is unparalleled.
Sure you get 300k in west coast or NYC but you don’t get to eat dinner on time!

WFH, eat dinner any time.

DC salaries are low but the WLB is unparalleled.
Sure you get 300k in west coast or NYC but you don’t get to eat dinner on time!