Re: What about the Cap???

It is funny that no one has ever shown a big exodus to the private sector from the gov't. In fact the executive branch just gets bigger.

Always threats but no follow-through. US citizens have little sympathy for a GS-15 step 10 salary.

If you are really worth more then get an SES or Title42 position.

Re: What about the Cap???

I worked my way up from GS-5 to GS-12. It took 20 years. Most IT Spec in our agency (non-DC Headquarters) are GS-12's, while IT Spec in most DC based agencys are GS-13. We have been told that it is because people won't go to DC for GS-12. We also have the perception, true or not, that DC is full of grade-creep.

Be aware of your audience when complaining about pay cap. Most federal employees nationwide will never have an opportunity to even be considered for GS-15. While I agree that everyone wants to get an increase, no matter what their grade level, GS-15s aren't going to get a lot of sympathy from the rest of us.

Re: What about the Cap???

It is suprising to see so many people who are not at the GS-15 level that indicate that "if" they were they wouldn't expect to be paid for the work they do (because of a cap). Most feel they can do the job of their bosses, however, this IT manager has (4) Undergraduate degrees, (3) Graduate degrees, is a certified Electronics Engineer, a certified Mechanical Engineer, has (41) years of federal service, and has been recognized for saving over $50 million of their tax dollars in the past (8) years. It is painful to hear the misery of those coming up through the "grades" and their lack of compasion for those holding the positions above them. We understand the feeling, because we were there. We also wish the times would get better for all.

Re: Salary Comparison

The annual increase received by General Schedule employees is not a cost of living increase it is locality pay. To give a quick explanation the amount/percentage of locality pay for an area is not based upon what it costs to live in that area but on salaries paid to employees in that area. The Houston area must have some very high paying positons.

Re: Salary Comparison

Could it be that Houston is "Bush" country? :)

Re: Salary Comparison

CSRS, could it be that Houston is the home of the Johnson Space Center and all those engineer salaries have boosted the overall salary levels?

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that not everything in the world, including the locality pay rate in Houston, can be blamed on Bush.

Re: Salary Comparison

Huntsville, Alabama has the highest concentration of engineers, scientists, and Ph.D's in the world and we don't have that kind of locality pay. In fact, Houston gets twice as much as Huntsville.

Re: Salary Comparison

It's not just the engineers, Houston has one of the few rapidly growing economies in the US today. It's energy, banking, engineering, construction, etc, etc.

Everyone always gets it wrong, government employees don't ever get a cost of living increase (COLA), we get raises on our base salary and then the locality raise reflects the costs to hire an employee in those areas.

Only retirees get a COLA.

Re: Inflation, COLA's and the 2009 Federal Pay Rai

Some managers allow their employees to write their own performance evaluations. It turn out many employees are harder on themselves than their supervisors would have been. There is a reason for that- we are all, way down deep inside, our own harshest critic. If you are feeling guilty about accepting your pay, you know something about yourself that only you can change. Get a job in which you feel you can give greater service and value to the taxpayer, work harder and smarter in the job you now have, or maybe both.

At one point in my career, I took my own advice and created something that ended up saving more tax dollars than I received in salary over the course of a 39-year career. And I'm not exceptionally bright- if I could do that, so can you!

Re: Inflation, COLA's and the 2009 Federal Pay Raise

Who is this "we" you are referring to? The real purchasing power of my salary is smaller and smaller each year. If yo feel you are over compensated, please feel frr to return some to the US Treasury.

Re: Locality pay

Loacality pay areas are reviewed and adjusted. A while back Yuba County, CA and two counties in Nevada were added to the Sacramento locality pay area. For some information on locality pay areas go to
http://www.opm.gov/oca/08tables/locdef.asp. If a pay area is going to change they usually publish information in the federal register.

Re: Locality pay

I have been in the agency six years. I done well in the six years by working hard. I live only 120 miles south of San Deigo but my locality pay is under the rest of the US. I feel we should get San Deigo pay due to the cost of living. Our electric bills each month due to the heat (100-125) are 350-500 dollars a month. Our gas is 4.60 a gallon. water bills are 100 plus a month ect...My GS5 only bring home a average of 600-675 depending on their deduction every two weeks. Average apartment cost 900-1200 dollars a month. It need to be reajusted for every one sake.

Re: Locality pay

To SCSI: you live 120 miles SOUTH of San Diego? That would put you in Baja California, Mexico. Would you mean EAST of San Diego, i.e. Imperial County?

Re: CAP

The $149,000 salary cap (which is the pay for Executive Schedule level IV) will be raised by the portion of the federal pay increase that is set aside for across-the-board pay raises, instead of for locality increases. For example, the 2008 pay increase (total of 3.5%) had two components, one for across-the-board pay increases (2.5%), and one for locality increases (1.0%). When the 2.5% increase was applied to the 2007 ES level IV pay ($145,400), the 2008 pay became $149,000 (executive level pay is rounded to the nearest $100). So, if the 2009 pay increase turns out to be 3.9%, and 2.9% is set aside for across-the-board pay increases, then the 2009 pay cap will be $153,300.