You are absolutely correct that one of the biggest problems with the federal pay system is that it does not take into account local variations in pay by occupation. Even the Federal Salary Council recognizes this:
“’The current pay comparison methodology used in the locality pay program ignores the fact that non-federal pay in a local lab…
You are absolutely correct that one of the biggest problems with the federal pay system is that it does not take into account local variations in pay by occupation. Even the Federal Salary Council recognizes this:
“’The current pay comparison methodology used in the locality pay program ignores the fact that non-federal pay in a local labor market varies substantially between different occupational groups,’ the pay agent said in its October 2023 report. ‘As currently applied, locality payments in a local labor market may leave some mission-critical occupations significantly underpaid while overpaying others.’”
However, typically the federal government uses special pay rates for occupations deemed underpaid. For example, cybersecurity is often cited as an underpaid occupation, so the concerned agencies offer special rates:
“New employees with a bachelor degree hired into eligible positions can be paid a minimum salary of $76,156 under the supplemental rates, while those with a master’s degree could be offered a minimum of $88,250. And it gives agencies flexibility to offer increased rates for high-demand work roles or “exceptional qualifications.”
The highest end of the new pay system for cyber and STEM roles at the NSA and other defense intelligence agencies tops out at $183,500, the same as the salary cap under the new Special Salary Rate for IT employees being adopted by the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
By way of contrast, the average salary for a cybersecurity analyst in the United States is around $92,621 per year, with an average additional cash compensation of $5,955, with Entry-level candidates being offered $68,202 per year.
So, there really should not be a shortage of candidates for federal job openings. And indeed, the biggest complaint I ever heard from hiring officials was that if they publicly advertised a federal job opening they would be inundated with applications. So instead they chose to rely upon the plethora of alternative appointment authorities available in order to pick the person they preferred without having to pick from a certificate of eligibles.
But that is just one problem with the system. Others include that benefits are not included in federal-private comparisons, federal hiring authorities favor candidates with degrees for positions that do not require a degree (thus rendering CBO’s pay comparisons by education level irrelevant) and that the redacted BLS survey data is not publicly available. For my money though the biggest problem is that the federal position classification system against which private sector jobs are leveled is completely unmoored from any reality and every GS-13 position description talks about responsibilities that surpass Elon Musk’s and requires the ability to blow unicorn farts. But when you look at what is actually done by the employee encumbering the position, it is nearly always routine and insignificant memo generating administrivia. There just aren’t that many real scientists and mathematicians working in government.
The bottom line is that as of March this year, the average federal employee earned $106,382 in salary alone per year compared to the USA median 2023 salary of $48,060 for the median American. Americans made a 2023 median of $104,200 for computer and mathematical occupations, $99,220 for legal occupations, $79,050 for Business and financial operations occupations
I find it very difficult to believe that every federal employee is the equivalent of a Wall Street investment banker and is massively underpaid as the FEPCA system claims. It would be one thing if their mission was not to immiserate every ordinary American, but that is not the case and the sooner the federal bureaucracy is chopped down to size the better.
You are absolutely correct that one of the biggest problems with the federal pay system is that it does not take into account local variations in pay by occupation. Even the Federal Salary Council recognizes this:
“’The current pay comparison methodology used in the locality pay program ignores the fact that non-federal pay in a local labor market varies substantially between different occupational groups,’ the pay agent said in its October 2023 report. ‘As currently applied, locality payments in a local labor market may leave some mission-critical occupations significantly underpaid while overpaying others.’”
(https://federalnewsnetwork.com/pay/2023/10/pay-agent-renews-calls-for-major-legislative-reforms-to-federal-pay/ )
However, typically the federal government uses special pay rates for occupations deemed underpaid. For example, cybersecurity is often cited as an underpaid occupation, so the concerned agencies offer special rates:
“New employees with a bachelor degree hired into eligible positions can be paid a minimum salary of $76,156 under the supplemental rates, while those with a master’s degree could be offered a minimum of $88,250. And it gives agencies flexibility to offer increased rates for high-demand work roles or “exceptional qualifications.”
The highest end of the new pay system for cyber and STEM roles at the NSA and other defense intelligence agencies tops out at $183,500, the same as the salary cap under the new Special Salary Rate for IT employees being adopted by the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
(https://federalnewsnetwork.com/pay/2023/08/pentagon-approves-higher-cyber-pay-for-nsa-other-defense-intelligence-agencies/ )
By way of contrast, the average salary for a cybersecurity analyst in the United States is around $92,621 per year, with an average additional cash compensation of $5,955, with Entry-level candidates being offered $68,202 per year.
So, there really should not be a shortage of candidates for federal job openings. And indeed, the biggest complaint I ever heard from hiring officials was that if they publicly advertised a federal job opening they would be inundated with applications. So instead they chose to rely upon the plethora of alternative appointment authorities available in order to pick the person they preferred without having to pick from a certificate of eligibles.
But that is just one problem with the system. Others include that benefits are not included in federal-private comparisons, federal hiring authorities favor candidates with degrees for positions that do not require a degree (thus rendering CBO’s pay comparisons by education level irrelevant) and that the redacted BLS survey data is not publicly available. For my money though the biggest problem is that the federal position classification system against which private sector jobs are leveled is completely unmoored from any reality and every GS-13 position description talks about responsibilities that surpass Elon Musk’s and requires the ability to blow unicorn farts. But when you look at what is actually done by the employee encumbering the position, it is nearly always routine and insignificant memo generating administrivia. There just aren’t that many real scientists and mathematicians working in government.
The bottom line is that as of March this year, the average federal employee earned $106,382 in salary alone per year compared to the USA median 2023 salary of $48,060 for the median American. Americans made a 2023 median of $104,200 for computer and mathematical occupations, $99,220 for legal occupations, $79,050 for Business and financial operations occupations
and $80,820 Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations. And the federal benefits are much better and even the FERS employees get a defined benefit retirement. See: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/emp-by-major-occupational-group.htm and compare at OPM’s FEDSCOPE app https://www.fedscope.opm.gov/
I find it very difficult to believe that every federal employee is the equivalent of a Wall Street investment banker and is massively underpaid as the FEPCA system claims. It would be one thing if their mission was not to immiserate every ordinary American, but that is not the case and the sooner the federal bureaucracy is chopped down to size the better.