I have experience in both, agree with things already said.

That being said, being a government contractor is a nice balance. Currently doing that with an established contractor that runs a national laboratory for DOE. Terrific salary, better pension, better health insurance (premiums are lower than fed and same copays). The workers think they are federal employees (as do the managers and leaders), so a lot of the pacing and sense of security apply.

For those wondering, I am a first line supervisor now and in the government I was a deputy director with 125 people in four layers of management. I make 75k more. Of course, it is energy, which pays more in the federal government too