STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Civil Service Discussion.

Moderator: Aitrus

Post Reply
cubi
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:40 am

STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by cubi »

Hello everyone,

Is it true that once you get to step 10, you are done deal? What can you do to get to the next grade? I read and it say something like a grade promotion can be equivalent to 2 step up move from the previous 2 steps (8,9) that means 6 years.....??? But then, the base pay for the next grade's first few steps starts at a much lower number......Seems like it's a set up for doom ???

Thanks for any suggestion.

Sarah
Posts: 631
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:11 pm

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by Sarah »

.
Last edited by Sarah on Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

cubi
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:40 am

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by cubi »

This GS system must be a joke on me. "Generally it takes 18 years" from step 1 to 10.......Darn, i can basically get stuck in 1 grade for my whole career / life.....and then when it comes to the next grade, I may have to refuse promotions.

Sarah
Posts: 631
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:11 pm

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by Sarah »

.
Last edited by Sarah on Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

cubi
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:40 am

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by cubi »

Sarah, could you give me information on the importance of the word "base pay" ???

At step 10, I end up having the much lower "base pay" being made up by the "locality adjustment". If I was at the next grade, I would of having sum of my lower base pay + locality adjustment all rolled into a higher "base pay"......

How significant is this??? They said in terms of pension calculation for retirement it doesn't make a difference, but should I worry for some subtle but important differences ???

Thank you.

User avatar
scorchf22
Posts: 40
Joined: Sun Aug 21, 2011 5:56 pm

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by scorchf22 »

Hey cubi:
Be grateful you still have a job--I know I am. And here is nothing more disgusting than a federal employee bitching about something they should have known before taking the job. It's af if you believe you deserve better. What a joke.

User avatar
Sad Al
Posts: 107
Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:50 am

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by Sad Al »

Sarah seems to have the goods on grade compression - I never heard of that before. In my agency, if you are promoted from a Grade 8 step 10 to a grade 9, you will get a step assigned to you that is at a salary equivalent to two steps higher than your current grade - I'm guessing, but maybe a Gr-9 step-6. I suggest you ask your personnel department or manager to see how that is done where you work.

I agree with Scorchf22 that I am grateful to have a job - a good job, with good benefits and a good salary. Everyone in my family has been laid off, on strike, company out of business, or otherwise lost their jobs during the last three decades, but I have always had job security. However, few federal employee candidates ask questions as in depth as "how is my salary affected if I take a job at the next grade level" when they are trying to get their foot in the door. I'd be concerned about hiring a candidate who asked about getting promoted before he even got the job I want done - why is he so anxious to move on?

Sarah
Posts: 631
Joined: Tue Dec 29, 2009 6:11 pm

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by Sarah »

.
Last edited by Sarah on Wed Apr 04, 2012 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

TSPKip
Posts: 1225
Joined: Mon Sep 27, 2010 7:34 am

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by TSPKip »

Its been 3 years since I retired, but having written qual standards of a VA profession, You get can move from ~ step 10 to step 4 of the next grade plus one full step [1+] higher, therefore, step 6. Also, the pay per step may be an 20-30% increase in the new grade.

Additionally, overtime is not included in retirement calculations.
Seek Wisdom where it can be found.

bab951
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:31 pm

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by bab951 »

As I understand it, when you are promoted to a new grade, the pay increase must be equal to or greater than 2 steps. So, as a GS 12-10 I was promoted to a GS 13-9 because that was the step in the GS 13 scale that was greater than 2 step increases had there been more steps in the GS 12 scale. I believe each step increase is a certain percentage so that's how they calculate where to put you in the new grade. Three years later I moved to a step 10 where I've been ever since and will forever be. No pay increases for me for the rest of my career. :(

User avatar
inthecloud
Posts: 213
Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2010 9:48 pm

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by inthecloud »

Apply for jobs in the next higher grade. If you are given a job offer, you can negotiate your salary (step) just like in any normal civilian job. People get hired above step 1 all the time.
Brian

fishbone
Posts: 115
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 11:19 am

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by fishbone »

Hey there is always private sector if you don't like the deal you have in the gov... We need more people who are more concerned with their job performance than their entitlements anyway.

cubi
Posts: 30
Joined: Tue Oct 19, 2010 1:40 am

Re: STUCK AT STEP 10 PLEASE HELP

Post by cubi »

Thanks for the responses.

Post Reply

Fund Prices2024-03-28

FundPriceDayYTD
G $18.15 0.05% 1.05%
F $19.08 -0.06% -0.74%
C $82.21 0.11% 10.55%
S $82.43 0.30% 6.92%
I $42.57 -0.24% 5.95%
L2065 $16.38 0.02% 8.37%
L2060 $16.39 0.02% 8.38%
L2055 $16.39 0.02% 8.38%
L2050 $32.73 0.01% 6.95%
L2045 $14.91 0.02% 6.58%
L2040 $54.38 0.02% 6.22%
L2035 $14.34 0.02% 5.79%
L2030 $47.67 0.02% 5.38%
L2025 $13.15 0.03% 3.43%
Linc $25.61 0.03% 2.82%

Live Charts

Pending Allocations

Under development. For now, you may view Pending Allocations by going to "fantasy TSP" and selecting "Leaderboard sort" of "Pending Allocations".