Anonymous wrote:15 years ago, I had a 30 year old colleague who was a GS-15 (I know this because we were the same age). This is DHS where they were promoting people really quickly. Other agencies are obviously very different.

It’s not really agencies so much as situations.

There are agencies with more availability of high grades, but also those organizations sometimes go through sprees where people are promoted quickly for some specific reason. I used to work at an agency that was expected to have a ton of incoming work and promoted a lot of people in order to retain them. Private industry was hiring them out and they needed to keep them.

GS-15s for lawyers ask for maybe 4 years of post JD experience. So if you went straight through law school and did 4 - 5 years somewhere, you would be 29 or 30 when you met that qual. I have way more years of experience than that and can’t even get an interview at DOJ when I meet all the basic and half or more of the preferred quals.

Anonymous wrote:I was happy to make GS 14 at 31. Now at 33 and it seems a 15 (even though I've been referred) is not going to happen anytime soon. I'm in a RUS area so not alot of 15's out here.

Russia?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? GS-15 pay is chump change here in DC.

Yes, my spouse and I are maxed out 15s. Close to 330k combined, with four day a week telecommuting. #blessed.

That is real good money/work/life/combo.


I once read an analysis here a federal 125k salary is equivalent to 200k contracting job.

Where was this analysis? Would like to read this and learn more.

I work at a contractor and all of our retired feds make at least $250 - they are hired for their networks, not their skills.

15 years ago, I had a 30 year old colleague who was a GS-15 (I know this because we were the same age). This is DHS where they were promoting people really quickly. Other agencies are obviously very different.

NAVSEA engineer here, whose division is on the DEMO system with pay bands (ND-IV = GS 11-13, ND-V = GS 14-15). The ND-V positions are competed, so you have to submit a resume and interview for them. However, there is typically one candidate for whom a high grade position seems to be designed and that person usually gets it. In the time I’ve been there (over 20 years), they have been trending younger and the average age seems to be about 35. Some of these are technical and some are managerial. The youngest I’ve seen is a 29-year-old who became a branch head, overseeing 25 people. A lot of folks were surprised.

I achieved it at 31. Last time I mentioned it here, people were MEAN.

My husband was in his early 30s when he was promoted to a 15.

I was a 14 at 35 (Years later I now moved to a FinReg and now I’m a 13 there bevause the pay scale is way higher so I took the cut).

I think that people want to be promoted but don’t want to do what it takes to be promoted. Years in service isn’t it. Many many people choose to not go for 15 positions because the work doesn’t entice them. A low stress 14 is easier to find. A hands-on 13 is more exciting for very many people. There is no such thing as “behind the curve”. There is just what you want and what you don’t want. If you really want to move up, go get it. Find out what it takes and go get it. Don’t wait for it to come to you.

made supervisory 15 at 35.

I think it’s younger than before. Boomers held onto jobs until they were 70. When they leave, Gen x is burnt out and ready for retirement. So it’s younger millennials taking over.

I was 34 when I got my job 2 years ago. None of my employees even applied. I don’t think any could do my job either. It’s difficult and challenging. They’re all salty about someone 30 years younger making more money though. I try to ignore it. I work damn hard for that extra 10k.

Anonymous wrote:I was a 15 at age 30. Attorney. Fast but not crazy fast. Attorneys who go straight through get out of law school at 25 start as 11s and promote every year

Attorney. 29 or 30. It is a mid level supervisory position. I went out of law school 11 12 the next year 13 the next year and promotion to 14 which is entry level supervision the next. 15 18 months later.

Anonymous wrote:It’s getting younger. Used to be that folks at many agencies would have to wait for years and years. Timing matters, though, an some younger creeps are getting them.

Disagree- I found it was much more common in the post 9-11, booming economy heyday to see 20 something gs-15s.

Youngish GS-14/15s are often lawyers or technical roles in non-sup positions. DC seems to have quite of few around.

I knew someone who made 14, 15 and then SES in short order in their early 30s by taking jobs no one else wanted (DoD) just for the rank. It's definitely possible to game the system.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? GS-15 pay is chump change here in DC.

Yes, my spouse and I are maxed out 15s. Close to 330k combined, with four day a week telecommuting. #blessed.

That is real good money/work/life/combo.


I once read an analysis here a federal 125k salary is equivalent to 200k contracting job.

Where was this analysis? Would like to read this and learn more.