But you know what, I didn’t want to offend government workers. I don’t think working for the government is a bad thing. It all depends on what you are after in a job/career. Security, set salaries, set raises.

Perhaps the difference is U.S. versus Canada. I don’t know how the government runs here in Canada, but even if salaries are capped, I do know that if you switch departments, they cannot pay you less than what you earned before, EVEN THOUGH it is a different job, and maybe even entry level.

Or at least, that’s what I heard.

What they can do, is get rid of your category/job altogether and then you WILL start at the bottom of that category range, but unless they reshuffle the roles, they are guaranteed that salary + higher for life.

One of the most common practices there was "double dipping". You put in your 20 years, then retire and start drawing a pension and get rehired as a consultant doing the same thing you were before. Dont even have to clean out your desk and overnight almost double salary.

I worked for a spinoff company from the Lab, but my counterparts doing the same thing I was with a gov Id badge were pulling in 3 times what I was and working less hours.

See, the problem is, no matter what the reality, people always think this is the case. Not saying that that wasn't ever true, but there's been a lot of change in the last 15 years, and you can only cut so much before people just can't do it any more. There aren't enough hours in the full day, let alone the work day, to get everything you want done. Let alone done well.

It's a tough question, but one we seriously need to have as a country (either Canada or the US). What services do we want our government to provide? Out of those, which are the top priorities? What are we willing to pay to ensure we get those services?

Also, it is not super easy to just "switch departments" as you mentioned for a higher salary. Government positions are very competitive, and even if you do make the switch that next position will have a salary cap. Again in the private sector, especially in your situation, you have the ability to make what you are worth. In the public sector, you make what the Govt tells you they will pay you.

My apologies if I offended.

To me, I don’t really care what private versus federal makes. It’s different benefits for both, and there are chances for change in both.

You get what you put into a job, whether it be in private or federal, and quite frankly if someone hated their job ( in either case ) they’d leave… or at least that’s what I’d hope they do!

“I think you, FB, of all people should acknowledge this.”

All I did was post the chart to generate a discussion. Please don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do. I am an employee of my own private corporation.

And in Canada, if you want to move up in your job, you just switch departments or jobs for the higher salary.

I think you, FB, of all people should acknowledge this. You make a NICE income working for yourself and have the potential to charge whatever rates you think you're worth. With the government, you are told from day one what you will make, no matter how good you are. You would never make what you do working for Uncle Sam.

Like most things in life, working for the Fed has it's positives, but it definitely has some cons as well.