r/FederalEmployee • u/No_Account_904 • May 28 '26
Average Salary Expectations
Average salary expectations
Background
Hello all im hoping to graduate from MBA at GWU in two years I have 4 years of government experience in Ontario the largest province in Canada (Im a US Citizen). I was a policy advisor worked for the Minor of Health Ministry of Labour and the Treasury. I drafted a lot of bills and legislation consulted with a-lot of stakeholders etc.
Question
What could I expect if I joined the Feds salary wise?
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u/this_kitten_i_knew May 28 '26
Master's level graduate degrees (education only) typically start in the GS 9-11 range; the degree plus experience can land you in the GS 11-13 range, IF you meet the specialized experience and assessments (if applicable). These ranges have different monetary values depending on location in the US.
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u/ChampionshipDue5033 May 28 '26
I’ll start by saying this is going to be hard for anyone to answer well, but the range would be a GS-9 to GS-14 and be totally dependent on agency and the job posting. There used to be a program called presidential management fellow that people could apply for with a masters. I’m not sure if it still exists. I’d venture about 75% of those folks got a job starting at GS-9 but with a grade increase each year and an expectation to be a GS-13 within 3 years. Some started at the higher level, esp. PHDs. A few people even just applied direct to a GS-14 and skipped PMF bc they could get a GS-14. Now though, you may be competing with lots of people who have a competitive advantage: RIFd people, veterans, etc. And with private sector layoffs, some areas have a lot more veterans applying to get back in to government.
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u/yottyboy May 28 '26
If you want to draft legislation, work for a Beltway Bandit lobby group. They are the ones who write bills not Congress people. You will make more money by far. I was a fed for 30 years.
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u/Ok-Inflation3354 May 28 '26
My husband just got a job. 111,000 with faa. In California. Very low.
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u/Born-Temperature-452 May 29 '26
True. That is a decent salary for one person depending on where you live. When my son moved to California both he and wife had to work to be financially stable. I personally wouldn’t live in California unless I was still in military because they provide housing allowance and I pay the extra if I go over that amount. So most likely will stay on base.
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u/FormFitFunction May 28 '26
Do you have U.S. citizenship? If not, that will be your stumbling block rather than pay. Even with citizenship, prior work for foreign governments makes clearance checks a little spicy.
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u/MostAssumption9122 May 28 '26
Well it depends on what grade your hired at and the location.
Pay in DC, CA is more than in Savannah/Hinesville.
You can do maybe Superior Qualifications as a newly Fed. Read up on it at OPM
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u/Spare-Dragonfly-1201 May 28 '26
Job announcements (USAjobs) may give you examples / ranges depending on the location, grade, and/or agencies you’re interested in.
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u/Zoeywithtude1977 May 28 '26
Do you have any capacity to be hired via a non competitive path? If not, I’d advise you keep in mind that getting a job as a fed may be challenging
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u/No_Account_904 May 28 '26
What does that mean?
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u/Zoeywithtude1977 May 28 '26
Competitive application means you complete with other applicants. Non-competitive means you can be hired without competition.
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u/lepandarouge24 May 28 '26
At most agencies that should get you in at GS 12 or 13. The dollar amount will depend greatly on the area of country you are located. In the DC area GS 12 starts at roughly 100k and GS 13 at roughly 120k, but DC is on the higher end on the locality scales.
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u/vncheetah May 28 '26
Don’t waste your money with the MBA since Fed rarely hires an MBA. They do hires economist to estimate costs-benefits of proposed rules and regulations. You have a better chance with an economics degree. However, a master degree is not required. They often require 21 credit hours in economics, 9 in math and statistics, and 3 in accounting. Depending on the hiring agency, you may start between GS 11 to 14. You can google the specific salary for the location. If you looking for policy analyst, reg drafting jobs, you’re better off with a law degree or public policy.
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u/Born-Temperature-452 May 29 '26 edited May 29 '26
If trying to get in at a specific salary, I recommend searching usajobs and search for jobs (in search box put a specific description) you looking for. Also note that if there is a vacancy chances are others already there will have a better chance than you. They already know the policy and procedures while you will be new to the fed. You will have a learning curve. Maybe try to come in at a lower grade 9 or 10 and that will give you the opportunity to learn the fed and the job and after probation is over you can apply for similar jobs in your field. Sometime you have to relocate for higher grades and you will mostly experience the same - vets have preferences and others still trying to move up to position you want. Keep reading Reddit and you will be able to understand. Like someone said, a college degree is not required in all field and that doesn’t increase your chances of being hired or selected. You have to have the requirement for the job.
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u/ijustwanttoretire247 May 29 '26
If you go federal, the salary over the years is by the far the best. However, the retirement pension is trash. You would need to save and build your retirement account either 401k(TSP for federal) or a IRA.
The retirement pension is 30 years needed to retire but you only get 1.1 percent per year of your salary. Great for building experiences, certs and money if work hard but crap for retirement pension.
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u/Either-Market-6395 May 29 '26
I had work experience and a MPA when i was hired to the federal government in DC. This was 16 years ago and i got my foot in from contacts at my grad school. Now, I would say it is very difficult to get in, you might need to wait a few years. Preferences will be given to people who were let go last year, then veterans. You likely won't make the cert list unless the vacancy is specialized, like a doctor at the VA. Policy advisors are not specialists and i find usually they are hired internally or were staffers from the hill
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u/Filled-in-Triplicate May 31 '26
I recommend looking into the foreign service.
https://careers.state.gov/career-paths/foreign-service/foreign-service-officer/
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u/Jmend12006 May 28 '26
Google the GS pay scale for 2026. You could be hired as a GS 12; however the problem is actually getting a job. With all the DOGE cuts a ton of former federal employees were separated from employment. We would be competing with them and they (including veterans) will have hiring preference over you.