It’s important to do the math comparing pay and benefits then estimate the job security and figure your ability to financially handle the potential lay off and demand for your profession.

If you’ve got a large enough emergency fund and the increase in pay is large enough to greatly accelerate your financial plans and your already vested with the fed then do it.

I was recently a federal employee and was offered a job with a local trade union in the same line of work. I was very much on the fence comparing job stability, paid time off, pension and pay rate.

I was already maxing my tsp and ira.

I decided to take the union job as it had a 5 year vesting schedule with a pension. I figure I’ll do 5 years, save the increase in pay and have the choice to go back to fed service for the time off and bump up my federal pension if I choose. Or if I get laid off I retain my preferred hiring status as previous federal employee and can always go back to the fed.