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The federal government pays a comfortable six figures (if I were offered this kind of job without being told the salary, I would value that opportunity estimati

The federal government pays a comfortable six figures (if I were offered this kind of job without being told the salary, I would value that opportunity estimating the salary to be $150,000). Plus you retire really early (I'm not certain whether CIA lets you retire after 20 years, but many fed roles do, with full salary), plus you have access to really hard to find information (valuable from the point of view of sheer curiosity). Not to mention, if in the course of your research you make enemies out of say hackers in Russia (totally plausible if you're researching computer security) they'll think twice before messing with you because you're part of the team (some liken it to being a "made man"). And you get paid that salary and those benefits even if for reasons outside of your control you don't come up with anything. I would speculate there's a limit to how much you can keep trying and failing, but at that limit you get moved to a different role where you don't need as much luck, but I know this is a smooth process. It's a far cry from an entrepreneur with no backing, or even VC backing. VC's generally don't take technical risk, only market risk: they won't pay for you to come up with a 10x better product, instead their contribution is backing an working 10x better product and helping it debut in the market (product-market fit, or final stages of development, but no research). And if for reasons outside your control your research fails in the market, venture capital practices "venture capitalism", you had a shot, you tried an adventure, it was an incredible journey, but they can't afford patience and faith like the federal government can, so they pull the proverbial plug.

jdm2212 6y ago
> The federal government pays a comfortable six figures Nope, it doesn't. Cracking 100k in the civil service requires being very very senior (equivalent of at least a colonel in the military). It is a cool opportunity, but it does not pay well. Even the civil service salary PLUS the maximum $150k patent royalties is less than what a 27 year old at a FAANG earns.
- AndrewKemendo 6y ago
  This is immediately falsifiable with public documents from OPM: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2020/general-schedule/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries... A mid-grade GS-12 in SF/DC/NY makes 100k+ which would be a non supervisory Individual Contributor with a BS. Colonel equivalent (GS-15) is indeed rare and would be closer to $150k+
  - nataz 6y ago
    To be fair, GS-12 isn't that common in some agencies. Because of hiring wickets, you'll see a lot more GS-11 or 13. I don't know any GS-12s that don't have a Masters. Most would have come in as an 11 with a Masters, then promoted to 12. Extra skills would have earned additional extra steps (steps are 12 different levels of compensation between grades). Of course it's possible, but in my agency unlikely. Also a GS-13 would be equivalent to a half bird Colonel. 14/15 would be full bird. SES levels would be equivalent to the different general levels.
- bumby 6y ago
  Contrary to the comment below, you don’t need to be in an expensive area to make that amount. I know quite a few making that amount without graduate education and in areas where the average cost-of-living is a small fraction of Silicon Valley
content_sesh 6y ago
Getting your SF-86 leaked by OPM does not, in fact, make you feel cool, like part of the team, or a "made man".
nataz 6y ago
Federal civil service does not let you retire with full salary. With 20 years of service (plus minimum age requirement) you'll get about 25% of the average salary of your top three years.

jdm2212 6y ago

> The federal government pays a comfortable six figures Nope, it doesn't. Cracking 100k in the civil service requires being very very senior (equivalent of at least a colonel in the military). It is a cool opportunity, but it does not pay well. Even the civil service salary PLUS the maximum $150k patent royalties is less than what a 27 year old at a FAANG earns.

AndrewKemendo 6y ago
This is immediately falsifiable with public documents from OPM: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2020/general-schedule/ https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries... A mid-grade GS-12 in SF/DC/NY makes 100k+ which would be a non supervisory Individual Contributor with a BS. Colonel equivalent (GS-15) is indeed rare and would be closer to $150k+
- nataz 6y ago
  To be fair, GS-12 isn't that common in some agencies. Because of hiring wickets, you'll see a lot more GS-11 or 13. I don't know any GS-12s that don't have a Masters. Most would have come in as an 11 with a Masters, then promoted to 12. Extra skills would have earned additional extra steps (steps are 12 different levels of compensation between grades). Of course it's possible, but in my agency unlikely. Also a GS-13 would be equivalent to a half bird Colonel. 14/15 would be full bird. SES levels would be equivalent to the different general levels.
bumby 6y ago
Contrary to the comment below, you don’t need to be in an expensive area to make that amount. I know quite a few making that amount without graduate education and in areas where the average cost-of-living is a small fraction of Silicon Valley

content_sesh 6y ago

Getting your SF-86 leaked by OPM does not, in fact, make you feel cool, like part of the team, or a "made man".

nataz 6y ago

Federal civil service does not let you retire with full salary. With 20 years of service (plus minimum age requirement) you'll get about 25% of the average salary of your top three years.