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The GS rates for all federal services are so laughably bad its a bit disgusting. Afaik, they're still expecting people with 4 year science degrees (BS) to star

The GS rates for all federal services are so laughably bad its a bit disgusting. Afaik, they're still expecting people with 4 year science degrees (BS) to start at ~16$hr

Victerius 5y ago
Good luck convincing 70 year old congressmen that 22 year old software engineers working for the government should be paid as much, if not more, than them. Government needs a pay raise across the board. The president should earn $10 million per annum. Senators, $2,000,000.00. Representatives, $1,200,000.00. Government employees, an average of $175,000.00. And entry level software engineers for the government, $200,000.00.
- RosanaAnaDana 5y ago
  I got a BS in botany thinking I wanted to work for the Park Service, Forest Service, BLM, something like that. Not only was entry level a paupers wage, and strictly seasonal, but there was no clear way to get into a career tract position. I ended up going into industry and making 2x, and within 3 years was making 3x. I would much rather be out in the world counting plants, but I would have never been able to buy a home, or get ahead in any reasonable fashion had I continued that path.
- renewiltord 5y ago
  No thanks. Doubt it would change performance. Gov jobs are already considered cushy jobs for the incapable. Everyone always wants to do these things with my money. Why don’t you form a Voluntary Taxpayers Union and you guys can go do that. I’m fine with government engineers being paid nothing because they’re going to deliver nothing irrespective of how much you pay them.
lastofthemojito 5y ago
It's not necessarily bad everywhere and for everyone - I think park rangers in East Nowheresville do ok. There's a base GS pay scale and then locality adjustments for different metro areas, and the big problem with the WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-ARLINGTON, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality is right there in the name: WV-PA. They pretend that folks working in downtown DC ought to be paid the same as folks at some remote site in WV. So yeah, I believe that means a 31% adjustment compared to the base GS pay scale, when to be competitive with other DC area salaries, the adjustment probably needs to be more like 80%.
- stonogo 5y ago
  I know many, many people who commute daily from Pennsylvania and West Virginia to DC. York and Harper's Ferry are short commutes. I know more than one Bucks County resident who make the trip.
  - navbaker 5y ago
    There is no world where I would call York, PA to DC a “short commute”.
fullstop 5y ago
If I remember correctly, they will greatly assist in student loan repayment.
- wmeredith 5y ago
  The PSLF program will forgive government-backed student loans after 120 payments made while working for a government entity. PSLF website: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation...

The GS rates for all federal services are so laughably bad its a bit disgusting. Afaik, they're still expecting people with 4 year science degrees (BS) to start at ~16$hr

Victerius 5y ago

Good luck convincing 70 year old congressmen that 22 year old software engineers working for the government should be paid as much, if not more, than them. Government needs a pay raise across the board. The president should earn $10 million per annum. Senators, $2,000,000.00. Representatives, $1,200,000.00. Government employees, an average of $175,000.00. And entry level software engineers for the government, $200,000.00.

RosanaAnaDana 5y ago
I got a BS in botany thinking I wanted to work for the Park Service, Forest Service, BLM, something like that. Not only was entry level a paupers wage, and strictly seasonal, but there was no clear way to get into a career tract position. I ended up going into industry and making 2x, and within 3 years was making 3x. I would much rather be out in the world counting plants, but I would have never been able to buy a home, or get ahead in any reasonable fashion had I continued that path.
renewiltord 5y ago
No thanks. Doubt it would change performance. Gov jobs are already considered cushy jobs for the incapable. Everyone always wants to do these things with my money. Why don’t you form a Voluntary Taxpayers Union and you guys can go do that. I’m fine with government engineers being paid nothing because they’re going to deliver nothing irrespective of how much you pay them.

lastofthemojito 5y ago

It's not necessarily bad everywhere and for everyone - I think park rangers in East Nowheresville do ok. There's a base GS pay scale and then locality adjustments for different metro areas, and the big problem with the WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-ARLINGTON, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality is right there in the name: WV-PA. They pretend that folks working in downtown DC ought to be paid the same as folks at some remote site in WV. So yeah, I believe that means a 31% adjustment compared to the base GS pay scale, when to be competitive with other DC area salaries, the adjustment probably needs to be more like 80%.

stonogo 5y ago
I know many, many people who commute daily from Pennsylvania and West Virginia to DC. York and Harper's Ferry are short commutes. I know more than one Bucks County resident who make the trip.
- navbaker 5y ago
  There is no world where I would call York, PA to DC a “short commute”.

fullstop 5y ago

If I remember correctly, they will greatly assist in student loan repayment.

wmeredith 5y ago
The PSLF program will forgive government-backed student loans after 120 payments made while working for a government entity. PSLF website: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation...