That's a good fallback option, though it's still difficult to control turnover and feel like you are aligned in terms of value using that approach. You'd want t

That's a good fallback option, though it's still difficult to control turnover and feel like you are aligned in terms of value using that approach. You'd want to find somebody that you trust and bring them on in that special capacity, rather than just putting an RFP on the street for a SETA advisor. Agreed on the GS payscale and its ability to keep up with high-end private sector pay though I also think that the entire hiring process may be more of a barrier than the pay itself. All that said, a non-supervisory GS-15 in the DC area (18% locality pay bump - more if you're SF or NY) is maxed out in the 170s which isn't shabby!! When you combine that wage with generous retirement matching options, job security, good work/life balance, and excellent health insurance at well negotiated rates it ends up being a pretty attractive offer. Furthermore, there are other government agencies and roles that have their own specialized payscale outside of the GS scale. This can include financial regulators (higher pay to avoid revolving door problems) as well as "cybersecurity" billets across different places.