considering switching to a gov. job

[Hal3]

Make sure you are getting top dollar for your security clearance.
Security Clearance Jobs - ClearanceJobs.com
That is one form of IT job that is not going to Bombay.

The security you seek in life is elusive.

The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Robert Frost (1874–1963)

 

[spncity]

So - is there a ballpark formula for calculating the federal pension? I was telling a friend he should consider working a government job for 5-10 years. Let's say the pay is $100,000 just for ease of calculation. What would the pension be? For five years of service? For ten years?

Not sure if I've phrased this question well - but please take a shot at answering it.

 

[Bimmerbill]

1% per year of service, generally speaking (unless fire/law enforcement/air traffic). So, 10% of your highest 3 years salary if you work 10 years.

 

[GoodSense]

I started working for a local government at age 22 and quit at 29 (last year). In our pension plan, you are vested after 3 years. I just got my pension statement. If I retire / start withdrawing at 55, I'll get $500/month for life. If I retire/start withdrawing at 66, I'll get $1,800/month. That's really pretty good considering most people don't have anything saved up by the time they are 29.

I started maximum contribution to my 457b plan when I was 27. Now of course it's shrunken quite a bit, but it's still something.

So if you can put up with the bullsh*t factor in the public sector, I say it's definitely a good deal!

 

[randyman65]

"I started working for a local government at age 22 and quit at 29 (last year). In our pension plan, you are vested after 3 years. I just got my pension statement. If I retire / start withdrawing at 55, I'll get $500/month for life. If I retire/start withdrawing at 66, I'll get $1,800/month. That's really pretty good considering most people don't have anything saved up by the time they are 29. "

And we wonder why state and local public pensions are going broke.

 

[spncity]

How many years of service does it take for him to qualify to purchase health insurance from the government if he retires early? Or is that even in the equation?

 

[huusom]

General Schedule = GS. I have a Son that did "get in" recently (last 3 years). However, he holds a CPA certification and is working for the IRS. He entered a training program that lasted about a year and is now a "senior" GS11 heading for a GS12 (hopefully). IRS does have non-supervisory positions at the GS 13 leave. My Son was "old" to enter Government employment at the age of 37. He likes the job (works out of his home about 4 days a week and sets most of his own "audit appointments". His work is in businesses NOT individual tax payers.

This site may help: 2009 Salary Tables and Related Information

I'm curious as to how this system works? If you have a lot of experience but never work for the gorvement, what GS level do you get?

A while back, I tried applying for a Homeland Sec. job online and they asked me to entered some kind of level or classification but no explanation as to what it is so I left it blank. I did not get the job obviously.

 

[W2R]

I'm curious as to how this system works? If you have a lot of experience but never work for the gorvement, what GS level do you get?

A while back, I tried applying for a Homeland Sec. job online and they asked me to entered some kind of level or classification but no explanation as to what it is so I left it blank. I did not get the job obviously.

Usually the job announcement will give you the best idea of what to ask for. But if not, here is a general policy document

Operating Manual for Qualification Standards

The usual educational requirements are listed in a table at the bottom, and there is also a link near the top for experience requirements when used instead. This policy is only loosely used but will give you some idea.

Edited to add: I am not sure if DHS uses GS grades anyway, so this may be of no use to you. I think they might be caught up in the DOD pay scales.

 

[OAG]

This link may help as it is DHS Career related: DHS | Homeland Security Careers