Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:24
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
You know that $300 HHI is well beyond the average for American households.
It’s the 85th percentile in DC.
Do you hear yourself?
Hear myself state an objective fact with zero commentary?
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:22
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
+100
But there is a huge amount of variety based on GS-level and step…
2 50-year old GS-14/step 10 would have a combined income of $440k, if that maxed out production each year.
I am a $220k/year Fed myself- even on my own my kid wouldn’t qualify.
I don’t understand this math. GS 14s don’t make 220k
I do. Base pay $195k as GS-14, Step 10. We get quarterly bonuses based on production. Another 15-20k for hardest work.
Fed attorneys make that as well.
+100 people think of gs-9-11 at clerical level.
You have PhD-attorneys and so many 30 year veterans.
So many Fed families in our very expensive neighborhood. DOGE hit it hard.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:21
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
+100
But there is a huge amount of variety based on GS-level and step…
2 50-year old GS-14/step 10 would have a combined income of $440k, if that maxed out production each year.
I am a $220k/year Fed myself- even on my own my kid wouldn’t qualify.
I don’t understand this math. GS 14s don’t make 220k
I do. Base pay $195k as GS-14, Step 10. We get quarterly bonuses based on production. Another 15-20k for hardest work.
Fed attorneys make that as well.
+100 people think of gs-9-11 at clerical level.
You have PhD-attorneys and so many 30 year veterans.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:20
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
+100
But there is a huge amount of variety based on GS-level and step…
2 50-year old GS-14/step 10 would have a combined income of $440k, if that maxed out production each year.
I am a $220k/year Fed myself- even on my own my kid wouldn’t qualify.
I don’t understand this math. GS 14s don’t make 220k
I do. Base pay $195k as GS-14, Step 10. We get quarterly bonuses based on production. Another 15-20k for hardest work.
Fed attorneys make that as well.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:19
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
+100
But there is a huge amount of variety based on GS-level and step…
2 50-year old GS-14/step 10 would have a combined income of $440k, if that maxed out production each year.
I am a $220k/year Fed myself- even on my own my kid wouldn’t qualify.
I don’t understand this math. GS 14s don’t make 220k
I do. Base pay $195k as GS-14, Step 10. We get quarterly bonuses based on production. Another 15-20k for hardest work.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:17
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
+100
But there is a huge amount of variety based on GS-level and step…
2 50-year old GS-14/step 10 would have a combined income of $440k, if that maxed out production each year.
I am a $220k/year Fed myself- even on my own my kid wouldn’t qualify.
Yep
That’s us and we were full pay HS ($35k) and Ivies ($90k) for 2 kids, no family help. Husband left Feds to consult and was $350-400k a few years. I’m one of those $220k Feds. So our income varied between $300-500k the past 30 years.
We were able to fund 529s and own two homes in DC. One is a rental that paid off the mortgage.
We live well, but don’t drive luxury cars.
We were very, very good about saving. But- we missed the memo that our rental would work so much against us. Looking back, we should have sold both homes and bought a more expensive home to tie our $$$ up. Everyone we know that did that is getting aid, even the ones that make our income or more with 2+ kids in college at the same time. Many schools still consider that- even if the fasfa form doesn’t.
But, as someone put out there “Fed” salaries vary by education, experience and the particular agency. It’s not unheard of for 1 person to be making $200k+ by the time their kids hit college age- so with 2 you have a $400k+ household.
But, yeah, even if my spouse quit his job we still wouldn’t qualify on 1 Fed salary.
The delulu on this thread is epic.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:16
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
With two incomes it is very hard to get financial aid. Merit is possible. Just have to have a plan before beginning the application process.
We were lucky with our first kid. Got into our state school and is very happy. With our second kid, not sure where he will land. May not be so lucky? But we do have a plan, sort of, applying to a lot of regional public schools. Some OOS are still a viable option.
We were lucky with our first kid. Got into our state school and is very happy. With our second kid, not sure where he will land. May not be so lucky? But we do have a plan, sort of, applying to a lot of regional public schools. Some OOS are still a viable option.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:15
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
You know that $300 HHI is well beyond the average for American households.
It’s the 85th percentile in DC.
Do you hear yourself?
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:15
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
+100
But there is a huge amount of variety based on GS-level and step…
2 50-year old GS-14/step 10 would have a combined income of $440k, if that maxed out production each year.
I am a $220k/year Fed myself- even on my own my kid wouldn’t qualify.
Yep
That’s us and we were full pay HS ($35k) and Ivies ($90k) for 2 kids, no family help. Husband left Feds to consult and was $350-400k a few years. I’m one of those $220k Feds. So our income varied between $300-500k the past 30 years.
We were able to fund 529s and own two homes in DC. One is a rental that paid off the mortgage.
We live well, but don’t drive luxury cars.
We were very, very good about saving. But- we missed the memo that our rental would work so much against us. Looking back, we should have sold both homes and bought a more expensive home to tie our $$$ up. Everyone we know that did that is getting aid, even the ones that make our income or more with 2+ kids in college at the same time. Many schools still consider that- even if the fasfa form doesn’t.
But, as someone put out there “Fed” salaries vary by education, experience and the particular agency. It’s not unheard of for 1 person to be making $200k+ by the time their kids hit college age- so with 2 you have a $400k+ household.
But, yeah, even if my spouse quit his job we still wouldn’t qualify on 1 Fed salary.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:11
Subject: Re:Coming to Terms with Full Pay
I have a kid at School Without Walls and Wisconsin, Michigan and Maryland are popular destinations for full pay kids. There are lots of Questbridge and Posse scholars going to great schools, and a very small handful of full pay going to the likes of Tufts, Dartmouth, etc.
I’m still amazed though when you raise the systemic problem that so many top schools are only for the very wealthy and the poor today that you’re labeled a whiner. How is that good for those institutions and for society?
I’m still amazed though when you raise the systemic problem that so many top schools are only for the very wealthy and the poor today that you’re labeled a whiner. How is that good for those institutions and for society?
Anonymous
12/02/2025 10:10
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
+100
But there is a huge amount of variety based on GS-level and step…
2 50-year old GS-14/step 10 would have a combined income of $440k, if that maxed out production each year.
I am a $220k/year Fed myself- even on my own my kid wouldn’t qualify.
I don’t understand this math. GS 14s don’t make 220k
Anonymous
12/02/2025 09:59
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Welcome to the 2 fed, full pay club, OP!
+100
But there is a huge amount of variety based on GS-level and step…
2 50-year old GS-14/step 10 would have a combined income of $440k, if that maxed out production each year.
I am a $220k/year Fed myself- even on my own my kid wouldn’t qualify.
Yep
Anonymous
12/02/2025 09:55
Subject: Re:Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:It gets easier when you realize you’re not alone.
In real life, I don’t think I know any dual feds with 2+ kids who have sent them to full-pay privates in the last 10-12 years. Many of the parents went to those schools. But to send their kids there is just irrational.
The kids who are going to those schools from the DMV are richer or poorer, or they have some kind of special circumstances: family money, a parent who works at a university that has some kind of tuition benefit, etc.
This is a wise post.
2 fed family and we were in DCPS and then kids moved to a $55K private for high school with some grandparent help. First one is now in college.
Private school classmates are all paying $95K for Boston College, USC, Cornell and Vanderbilt without a second thought. Like, money was NOT a consideration when choosing a school.
Former public school classmates with 2 fed parents or similar (HHI $300-450K) are all going to Wisconsin, UNC, Michigan, second tier liberal arts colleges with aid. They just don't have the $400K cash for college. Paying $50K to even 70K (for Michigan which is more expensive than some other state schools) for these schools may not seem like much savings over the privates but the buck has to stop somewhere and a savings of $25-45K/year is significant when you're making $300K.
The harsh reality is that the bubble class of the DMV doesn't have the $400K/kid for college and their kids don't attend these schools.
Anonymous
12/02/2025 09:54
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's kind of maddening when you are full pay at colleges and your kid's roommates get substantial aid and live much nicer lives than your DC kids do.
I have 2 in college and we are full pay all around with a DC income of $400K. My kids' middle America roommates are both (fr and soph) on 50%+ aid but have cars on campus, much fancier clothing, have all sorts of spending money for eating off campus. My kids have never owned a car, eat in the dining hall full time, etc.
There is something to be said for living in a LCOL area and making under $200K. You go to college for free or at half cost but still have the same lifestyle outside of school as those of us making almost twice the income in a HCOL town.
Yea you've been on here complaining before. But the truth is, you know nothing about your kids' roommates except what your kids tell you, and your kids sound petty and nasty.
I haven't said a word about this on here before.
You have a clone then
Anonymous
12/02/2025 09:52
Subject: Coming to Terms with Full Pay
We’ve come to terms with full pay as well. You have to cut out the noise of the instagram senior pages, college counseling b.s and even this forum. Your child can be happy and successful graduating from a state school. Your financial health long term is worth it.
What strikes me as strange is that many advocate and virtue signal by sending their children to public schools that there is no reason to pay for private, but when it comes to colleges, suddenly an in-state public option is horrifying.
Full pay has broken down to around 35-38k/year for a private SLAC in Pa for my oldest child and will be around the same for my youngest who chose a SUNY school for ED (and was admitted, yay!).
We have 3 kids and are dual fed family too. Right now, I’m thankful we are being paid at all after the last year. We consider ourselves a donut family but one who has saved what we can to make a dent in the college costs.
What strikes me as strange is that many advocate and virtue signal by sending their children to public schools that there is no reason to pay for private, but when it comes to colleges, suddenly an in-state public option is horrifying.
Full pay has broken down to around 35-38k/year for a private SLAC in Pa for my oldest child and will be around the same for my youngest who chose a SUNY school for ED (and was admitted, yay!).
We have 3 kids and are dual fed family too. Right now, I’m thankful we are being paid at all after the last year. We consider ourselves a donut family but one who has saved what we can to make a dent in the college costs.