05-25-2005, 09:01 AM
The pay does start off a little low, but within a few years you've caught up with the private sector. My father is an associate commissioner (SES)here at BLS, so he's been through it all. He said you can move up through the gs rankings up to about 9 before you have any competition from other employees. After that its more merit based than before, and more competitive.
GS levels are based on grades as people have posted, even for someone as low as an intern like me. Because I have a high gpa Im making more money than a normal gs-3 would make. My mother works at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and she said her office wont even hire you if you have less than a 3.5 coming out of college.
Again pay wise, it seems like the private sector is ahead in the begining and end years, but you are pretty much even w/it in the middle. I looked at salaries for statisticians entering out of college (w/both BA and/or masters) and its not the best salary to begin with. However, I was told that assuming you're not a moron and you work hard you will rise about 3 gs levels in the first 3-4 years, which is a good increase in money. Not to mention if you come in w/your masters you start as a gs-8
Edit: To be fair statisticians are in demand right now in both the private sector and the gov, so the salaries are a LITTLE better than another major might get, but the idea is the same. Within a few years you will be earning a good amount of money. And from what ive experienced here, it would not be bad at all to work for the gov. I can set my own hours (as long as im here from 9:30-3:30 (Core Hours). I can work an extra hour every day and take every other friday off. ETC ETC. Your in the heart of DC (Im learning to love union station
). And most importantly, to me anyway, its a stimulating place. There are lots of people in BLS who publish stuff periodically, who I can talk with on a daily basis. Its a great place to work IMO
GS levels are based on grades as people have posted, even for someone as low as an intern like me. Because I have a high gpa Im making more money than a normal gs-3 would make. My mother works at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and she said her office wont even hire you if you have less than a 3.5 coming out of college.
Again pay wise, it seems like the private sector is ahead in the begining and end years, but you are pretty much even w/it in the middle. I looked at salaries for statisticians entering out of college (w/both BA and/or masters) and its not the best salary to begin with. However, I was told that assuming you're not a moron and you work hard you will rise about 3 gs levels in the first 3-4 years, which is a good increase in money. Not to mention if you come in w/your masters you start as a gs-8
Edit: To be fair statisticians are in demand right now in both the private sector and the gov, so the salaries are a LITTLE better than another major might get, but the idea is the same. Within a few years you will be earning a good amount of money. And from what ive experienced here, it would not be bad at all to work for the gov. I can set my own hours (as long as im here from 9:30-3:30 (Core Hours). I can work an extra hour every day and take every other friday off. ETC ETC. Your in the heart of DC (Im learning to love union station
). And most importantly, to me anyway, its a stimulating place. There are lots of people in BLS who publish stuff periodically, who I can talk with on a daily basis. Its a great place to work IMO
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