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Phrase originated in World War II. When something was "good enough for Government work" it meant it could pass the most rigorous of standards.
By the 1960s and 1970s, good enough for government work and close enough for government work came to mean the exact opposite of their original definitions!
By the 1960s and 1970s, good enough for government work and close enough for government work came to mean the exact opposite of their original definitions!
Location: IN>Germany>ND>OH>TX>CA>Currently NoVa and a Vacation Lake House in PA
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So much misinformation in this thread, and OP, this is what you get for asking a question in a public forum instead of doing your own research. Just one example of poor information:
Quote:
Originally Posted by RLCMA
I saw a GS-15 on the very high end makes under 150k in the DC area. Not a bad salary, but you're capped. I don't feel any job where your salary is capped is prestigious. I look at most government workers as lazy, not ambitious, all about their pensions, and usually boring to talk to on top of throwing around their stupid pay grade. I mean that one woman who told me she is a GS-13 (like I was supposed to be impressed) was probably making 5 figures. I'd be embarrassed to share that info with a stranger, especially one who has no idea what it even is.
A 15 in DC caps out at $176,300. Now add the 4.1% base (minus locality) raise feds are about to get, and you have $183,528 for 2023. Also, as a GS-15 I get a yearly bonus. This year's was $3,000, so add that to it. Not chicken scratch by any means and even a good salary in the richest county in the country which happens to be Loudoun County in NOVA. The medium household here is $147,111. So please, tell me how even $150,000 for a Fed is a bad salary? You'd have to be an idiot to think otherwise. Don't forget pension with COL raises, generous TSP match, health insurance for life, etc.
As far as the lazy comment, I've worked in the real world (10 years IT for a large Telco, hospital, and insurance company) and now have 27 years as a Fed including 4 years in the military. As a Fed I work with the most competent and motivated people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Yes, I'm sure your visits to places like SSA and other front facing government offices have counter people that are not the greatest, but either are workers at McDonalds which is comparable. Professional Fed jobs in professional settings are amazing and the most rewarding career anyone could ask for.
Last edited by LakeLifePA; 09-23-2022 at 07:18 AM..
So much misinformation in this thread, and OP, this is what you get for asking a question in a public forum instead of doing your own research. Just one example of poor information:
A 15 in DC caps out at $176,300. Now add the 4.1% base (minus locality) raise feds are about to get, and you have $183,528 for 2023. Also, as a GS-15 I get a yearly bonus. This year's was $3,000, so add that to it. Not chicken scratch by any means and even a good salary in the richest county in the country which happens to be Loudoun County in NOVA. The medium household here is $147,111. So please, tell me how even $150,000 for a Fed is a bad salary? You'd have to be an idiot to think otherwise. Don't forget pension with COL raises, generous TSP match, health insurance for life, etc.
As far as the lazy comment, I've worked in the real world (10 years IT for a large Telco, hospital, and insurance company) and now have 27 years as a Fed including 4 years in the military. As a Fed I work with the most competent and motivated people I've ever had the pleasure of working with. Yes, I'm sure your visits to places like SSA and other front facing government offices have counter people that are not the greatest, but either are workers at McDonalds which is comparable. Professional Fed jobs in professional settings are amazing and the most rewarding career anyone could ask for.
Actually, the 4.6% COLA would result in lower steps within GS 15 reaching the cap, as the cap does not change. A different bill would be required by Congress to raise the $176,300 cap.
In any case, though we want federal salary to be fair, you don’t want federal salary to be a source of prestige. We want highly qualified professionals who are paid their worth, doing things for the service of the country. I think that should be sufficient.
Prestige isn't always about salary either. A Biglaw partner can make many times the salary of a Supreme Court Justice. Yet, the Supreme Court Justice can be much more widely known and have a much bigger impact on society.
I can tell you from experience that Government Work is super prestigious. When I worked for the US Army I got to go camping all the time, eat 5 Star MRE's with no wait times or reservations, I got to live in Germany for free and the best part of all I was a given a rifle with permission to use it. I deployed, missed the birth of my child, babies First Christmas. Whoever tells you government jobs are not top tier A-List prestige then they are lying to ya...
That's not how you do it, but you can pick up your participation trophy on your way out.
bless your heart
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