4 ms·

You only have to look at a management salaries at any large defense contractor to find counter examples. And even if this were a problem, there are so many eas

• rayiner 9y ago
  > You only have to look at a management salaries at any large defense contractor to find counter examples. First, defense is by far the government-affiliated industry with the most leeway salary-wise. But even there, outside the C-suite, there's a $500k salary cap. That sounds like a lot, but many people in tech and finance make more than that, especially if they start their own business (even one that has a modest exit).
  • learc83 9y ago
    There are software engineers working for firms with government contracts making way more than the federal salary scale too. Take a look at large IT contractors, they have numerous employees making more than GS-15 and above. There are plenty of exceptions, and there is absolutely no reason drug R&D couldn't be another one. >But even there, outside the C-suite, there's a $500k salary cap. How many biotech researchers outside of their respective C-suites are making >$500k? There are plenty of people who have gotten wealthy on government contracts, there's no reason they couldn't do the same in biotech. >especially if they start their own business (even one that has a modest exit). And if you start your own business pursuing government contracts, you can make more than $500k too. There are reasonable arguments to make against publicly funded R&D, but "the federal payscale is too low" just isn't one of them.