They exist - but are are rare. Student trainee, part-time work, etc., commonly fall into those grades. I thought I indicated the majority of even entry level federal jobs run from GS-3 to GS-5, to start. A number are even GS-5 to GS-7 slots, which gets you up to a GS-7 in just 2 years - but they normally require a little education or experience above high school graduate.

And government jobs are competitive up to about GS-11 and GS-12 - that's about the departure with what the civilian pay would be for commensurate responsibilities - for example - many, many federal attorneys are hired at GS-9, and "senior" attorneys are typically GS-13 - while at Step 10, that is ~$107k, that job is equivalent to a senior partner in a litigation firm - so, they're taking between 1/3 and 1/2 what their civilian counterparts are taking, on average.

Remains somewhat competitive in a small market, if you factor in the benefits package.

And that's the problem with comparing the federal workforce's average pay and the private sector's. The feds have contracted out much of the menial and entry level stuff to contractors - so there are far fewer janitors in the GS (most are contractors), and far more accountants, doctors, lawyers, MBAs, etc., in proportion to the overall population.

This post was edited on 4/4/14 at 9:35 am

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Posted by DCRebel

An office somewhere

Member since Aug 2009

17644 posts

Posted on 4/4/14 at 9:30 am to Ace Midnight

quote:
And that's the problem with comparing the federal workforce's average pay and the private sector's. The feds have contracted out much of the menial and entry level stuff to contractors - so there are far fewer janitors in the GS (most are contractors), and far more accountants, doctors, lawyers, MBAs, etc., in proportion to the overall population.

That and entry-level pay for the government is pretty high compared to private sector.

But you're right, you'll make more money as the CEO of even a small company than you would as a cabinet secretary.

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Posted by navy

Parts Unknown, LA

Member since Sep 2010

29133 posts

Posted on 4/4/14 at 9:36 am to Ace Midnight

quote:
so, they're taking between 1/3 and 1/2 what their civilian counterparts are taking, on average.

That's because the civilian counterparts have actual real jobs in which they can be fired relatively easily if they do not perform or produce good results.

These docs and lawyers ... if they think they can hack it in the private sector...and, as such, make much more money ... then why wouldn't they?

Either (a) they like a no stress, stable job ... or (b) perhaps they don't think they could hack it.

quote:
But you're right, you'll make more money as the CEO of even a small company than you would as a cabinet secretary.

As well, the person in the private sector should. He/she is the one managing an actual business, meeting payroll, living with risk, dealing with profit/loss, etc. Much more stress. Much more risk.

With higher risk ... should come higher reward.

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