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GS-12, 13, 14, 15, and steps, WTF does this mean?
Economist
a838Does anyone have any idea how government salary is determined?
It seems like most fresh PhD Economists will be hired at the GS-12 or GS-13 level. However, the "steps" make no sense to me. It seems to be a wide range:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2016/GS.pdf
According to glassdoor, economists at the CBO are paid about 120k. Does this mean they are hired at the GS-15 level? All of this makes no sense to me!!!
Could anyone with insight into this provide information?
Economist
1857All fresh PhD's usually start at GS-13 in most agencies if in DC (maybe GS-12 in non-DC locations). You will also be on the same grade as people with masters with several years of experience, so don't assume everyone has a PhD.
Then your step increases happen as you remain at the job in the same grade. Usually its about 2 years to go from step 1 to step 10. You can jump a grade (to GS 14 or GS 15) by taking on additional responsibilities (usually management related) or, rarely, as a way to retain you against outside offers.
There isn't a lot of room to negotiate the initial pay so it is what it is. Maybe you can get a jump up to step 2 or 3 but that may come at a slightly longer step clock overall. This is all up to the agency.
Economist
1857To clarify, remain at the job and perform satisfactory.
All fresh PhD's usually start at GS-13 in most agencies if in DC (maybe GS-12 in non-DC locations). You will also be on the same grade as people with masters with several years of experience, so don't assume everyone has a PhD.
Then your step increases happen as you remain at the job in the same grade. Usually its about 2 years to go from step 1 to step 10. You can jump a grade (to GS 14 or GS 15) by taking on additional responsibilities (usually management related) or, rarely, as a way to retain you against outside offers.
There isn't a lot of room to negotiate the initial pay so it is what it is. Maybe you can get a jump up to step 2 or 3 but that may come at a slightly longer step clock overall. This is all up to the agency.Economist
5c372 years to go from step 1 to step 10? No, you're eligible for steps 2, 3, and 4 after a year at the lower step; 5, 6, and 7 after two years; and 8, 9, and 10 after three years. Exceptions can be made if your boss offers you a "Quality Step Increase" as an incentive or reward.
Economist
1857Ahh, you are correct on this, I read the GS thing wrong. Apologies, good sir.
2 years to go from step 1 to step 10? No, you're eligible for steps 2, 3, and 4 after a year at the lower step; 5, 6, and 7 after two years; and 8, 9, and 10 after three years. Exceptions can be made if your boss offers you a "Quality Step Increase" as an incentive or reward.
Economist
9889Gov't person here. I started in 2012 at a G12 step 5 and have moved in 3 years to a 13 step 4. When you move up in grade, you go to the grade/step combination that is the next highest in salary (so I initially went from a 12-5 to a 13-3, then got the one-year step increase to a 13-4). New economists are always hired at a G12 in our agency, but there is a good deal of variation in the step depending on superior qualifications or competing offers (meaning we can get approval to offer a 12-10 if it takes that to coax away a candidate from another offer).
Economist
0456Also federal employee salaries are publicly available. So look up some of the economists in the different agencies and see how much they earn.
Ex. Here are people at FTC with the job title of economist -
Economist
adfaAnd if you work really hard you can reach the rank of GLG-20
Economist
4d33OP, this is something you should ask about at your interview. Agencies differ in terms of where you start on the GS scale, how quickly you move up, and what you top out at.
Some agencies start out at 12, but will move you up fairly quickly through 13, 14, and 15 (1 or 1.5 years per grade). Obviously this is partly determined by performance, but partly due to the fact that agencies recognize that they're underpaying you to begin with (due to external constraints on them).
Some agencies are off GS scale, like FDIC and SEC. They pay a lot more.
Economist
adfaUmmm, only broach salary at the very late stages, like maybe when you have an offer in hand. Gather general information but don't seem like you're only interested because of the money. That's a killer.
OP, this is something you should ask about at your interview. Agencies differ in terms of where you start on the GS scale, how quickly you move up, and what you top out at.
Some agencies start out at 12, but will move you up fairly quickly through 13, 14, and 15 (1 or 1.5 years per grade). Obviously this is partly determined by performance, but partly due to the fact that agencies recognize that they're underpaying you to begin with (due to external constraints on them).
Some agencies are off GS scale, like FDIC and SEC. They pay a lot more.Economist
4d33Depends. Certainly don't broach the issue if you're not comfortable.
Some places will be very upfront about it, especially considering the information may already be public. Some economists you interview with will be happy to share the information. Several agencies that I interviewed with at AEAs were extremely open about pay scale.
In any case, candidates *should* be asking about opportunities for advancement, and information on pay scale is natural to include in the response.
Ummm, only broach salary at the very late stages, like maybe when you have an offer in hand. Gather general information but don't seem like you're only interested because of the money. That's a killer.
OP, this is something you should ask about at your interview. Agencies differ in terms of where you start on the GS scale, how quickly you move up, and what you top out at.
Some agencies start out at 12, but will move you up fairly quickly through 13, 14, and 15 (1 or 1.5 years per grade). Obviously this is partly determined by performance, but partly due to the fact that agencies recognize that they're underpaying you to begin with (due to external constraints on them).
Some agencies are off GS scale, like FDIC and SEC. They pay a lot more.
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