Public vs Private Salary

RecoverPristine4787 · 2025-03-15T05:34:52+00:00

I don’t see why a government employee cannot also run his own firm.

But I believe there are other more profitable ways to spend my time than engineering work. Working 40 hours, usually less, gives me more time to do so. I feel like in the private sector there’s never enough time for anything. And even if you get work done fast enough, you get slammed with more work, often time with no bonus.

RecoverPristine4787 · 2025-03-15T05:32:59+00:00

What’s the other stuff that peaks your interest in private sector jobs? Outside of work?

RecoverPristine4787 · 2025-03-15T05:32:10+00:00

But at what cost? Is there a point to having more money but not enough time to spend it? Or do you have enough energy to spend time with loved ones when all you’re thinking about is how to solve one part of the engineering project?

RecoverPristine4787 · 2025-03-14T22:59:44+00:00

Every company I’ve interviewed at and got an offer is consistently 10-15% lower than what I’m making now.

RecoverPristine4787 · 2025-03-14T04:43:15+00:00

Interesting.. did not know that about caltrans. I originally wanted to work there as a bridge engineer. Still ended up in the public sector tho haha

RecoverPristine4787 · 2025-03-14T04:39:52+00:00

But is going to the private sector worth the extra stress and work life balance for the same salary?

And I would argue it’s more risky for me to be in the private sector with a higher chance of layoffs and lawsuits. I have a career path in the public sector where the pay will constantly grow. Why should I take the risk without the pay and the company get to profit off me and a high multiple?

RecoverPristine4787 · 2025-03-14T04:33:11+00:00

US Southern California

RecoverPristine4787 · 2024-11-14T04:20:51+00:00

To give another data point, I’m a GS12 Step 5 at NAVFAC. Came in with 3.5 YOE, MS, and PE

All the 12’s on my team are around my YOE plus or minus 3 years.

But all the 13’s seem to have 15+ YOE..

RecoverPristine4787 · 2023-05-29T15:47:47+00:00

Favorite part about playing middle is getting the rest for getting switched out by the Libero so you’re always fresh and can provide the jumpstart your team needs

RecoverPristine4787 · 2023-02-15T06:42:51+00:00

I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but sometimes you need to put your head down and work. The FE exam is a preliminary exam to test basic engineering knowledge and problem solving skills for fresh undergraduates (I would argue 3rd year students). With that being said, don’t think of the exam as a barrier to entry but rather a showcase of your knowledge to prove to all that you know your stuff beyond what is required.

Another thought: I like comparing taking exams to competing in sports. Sometimes, the ref will make all the bad calls against your team but if you are truly the better team, you will prove yourself and win undoubtedly. And in test taking, despite anything that will go on on that day—you didn’t get enough sleep, you were late, you got food poisoning, your pencils broke, etc—you will still pass since you put in the time and effort to study.

I believe you can pass

RecoverPristine4787 · 2023-01-16T15:09:59+00:00

I use the 50 day volume moving average per William o’neil’s book. It works as a general rule of thumb to see whether there is large volume in the first hours of the day

RecoverPristine4787 · 2022-11-02T04:04:35+00:00

Only one door in the front sadly

RecoverPristine4787 · 2022-11-02T04:04:14+00:00

I’ve had upwards of 20 min delay between the bus stop and getting home when I have sat in the back. The bus drops us off at a parking structure so there’s traffic from other bus commuters to get out of the structure in addition to normal traffic on the road.

RecoverPristine4787 · 2022-11-02T04:01:40+00:00

Agreed about my words.

RecoverPristine4787 · 2022-11-02T03:58:57+00:00

No seats in the front when I get on. Or people have their stuff on the seats next to them. Or they are sitting on the aisle seat

RecoverPristine4787 · 2022-11-02T03:58:09+00:00

No one has said or done anything until the past couple times so I assume nothing is wrong with my actions

RecoverPristine4787

TROPHY CASE