Booz Allen/SAIC/L3/WarPigs Versus Gov't Intel Agency Career...Your Opinions (Reston: how much, salaries)

[scimitar12]

Originally Posted by scottfs

Incidentally, the CIA budget it classified and Gates doesn't control it. Still a bit scary for contractors, though I heard they also kinda gave up on in-sourcing, so govt' jobs probably aren't much safer.

And, similar buget cuts may be in store for DHS.

[scimitar12]

Originally Posted by RestonRunner86

Not really. I knew a trade-off with working for the government was lousy pay.

I am kind of surprised. There have been several reports out that many government employees make more money for a given position and similar experience as their privage sector counterparts.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by scimitar12

I am kind of surprised. There have been several reports out that many government employees make more money for a given position and similar experience as their privage sector counterparts.

If you read any further than the studies, you'll see that the are severely flawed. John Berry, director of OPM, is trying to work on a more realistic study that actually does an apples-to-apples comparison.

Right now, the studies compare overall industry to overall government. What that haven't taken into account is that most lower level positions such as janitor, secretary, security guard, and the like, have all been outsourced to contractors. When they average everything out, the numbers don't ever tell the true story.

OPM: Pay Gap Study to Kick Off in September

By Tom Shoop Wednesday, August 18, 2010 3:43 PM


Last week, OPM officials said they couldn't say when a plan to conduct a new study of how federal compensation compares to that of the private sector might get off the ground. Now, OPM Director John Berry says the process will start next month.
In an interview with Federal Times, Berry said the government's current pay gap numbers -- which show federal employees earn 22 percent less than their private sector counterparts on a job-for-job basis -- "are good ones, and the process is accurate." But he reaffirmed that OPM, OMB and the Labor Department still are planning to put their heads together in September to see if any improvements are in order in the process of computing the gap.
The potential overhaul has taken on new urgency due to recent news reports claiming federal employees actually are paid more than private sector workers -- and that the gap is growing. Berry has dismissed those as apples-to-oranges comparisons that don't take into account the makeup of the federal workforce.

[The Dissenter]

Originally Posted by scimitar12

I am kind of surprised. There have been several reports out that many government employees make more money for a given position and similar experience as their privage sector counterparts.

Depends on the field. As a guy with a mostly Finance/Management background I would probably go private sector for more dollars.

[scimitar12]

Originally Posted by Alanboy395

Depends on the field. As a guy with a mostly Finance/Management background I would probably go private sector for more dollars.

True.

Public employee unions generally credit the pay gap to what they say are higher average levels of skill and education required for federal jobs.
However, a detailed analysis by the Heritage Foundation found otherwise.
In fact, in most high-skilled positions — such as lawyers, accountants and scientists — federal workers earn salaries comparable to or even less than private-sector workers.
It is within the vast bulk of federal employees — the paper-pushers, bureaucrats, assistants and secretaries — that the pay gap between federal and state workers is the widest.

We need a study to align federal pay with private sector

[rvasonicbloom]

I've never understand the whole government contractor thing. You've got a bunch of slouchy full-time employees, but the contractors, who are paid 3x as much actually run the company and are the work horses of the company. I never understood why the company would just hire competient full-time employees instead of highering contractors.

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by scimitar12

I am kind of surprised. There have been several reports out that many government employees make more money for a given position and similar experience as their privage sector counterparts.

You mean those studies, like this one, that show government workers make double what folks in private industry make?
Federal workers earning double their private counterparts - USATODAY.com

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by rvasonicbloom

I've never understand the whole government contractor thing. You've got a bunch of slouchy full-time employees, but the contractors, who are paid 3x as much actually run the company and are the work horses of the company. I never understood why the company would just hire competient full-time employees instead of highering contractors.

Uh, it's a contracting company. The company has contracts with the government. The company then hires people to fulfill the contract. Sometimes those people actually work in government buildings, but often they work in the contract company's building. Does that make sense?

Or did you mean something else?

[Denton56]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

If you read any further than the studies, you'll see that the are severely flawed. John Berry, director of OPM, is trying to work on a more realistic study that actually does an apples-to-apples comparison.

Right now, the studies compare overall industry to overall government. What that haven't taken into account is that most lower level positions such as janitor, secretary, security guard, and the like, have all been outsourced to contractors. When they average everything out, the numbers don't ever tell the true story.

OPM: Pay Gap Study to Kick Off in September

By Tom Shoop Wednesday, August 18, 2010 3:43 PM


Last week, OPM officials said they couldn't say when a plan to conduct a new study of how federal compensation compares to that of the private sector might get off the ground. Now, OPM Director John Berry says the process will start next month.
In an interview with Federal Times, Berry said the government's current pay gap numbers -- which show federal employees earn 22 percent less than their private sector counterparts on a job-for-job basis -- "are good ones, and the process is accurate." But he reaffirmed that OPM, OMB and the Labor Department still are planning to put their heads together in September to see if any improvements are in order in the process of computing the gap.
The potential overhaul has taken on new urgency due to recent news reports claiming federal employees actually are paid more than private sector workers -- and that the gap is growing. Berry has dismissed those as apples-to-oranges comparisons that don't take into account the makeup of the federal workforce.

Of course the government would report that the government doesn't overpay employees! No group of employees EVER thinks they make too much money! The difference here is that it is our money, taxpayers money, involuntarily given.

[FindingZen]

Originally Posted by Denton56

You mean those studies, like this one, that show government workers make double what folks in private industry make?
Federal workers earning double their private counterparts - USATODAY.com

You may have also wanted to note this caveat directly from the article:

"The data are not useful for a direct public-private pay comparison," says Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union.