Salary you are EXPECTING to make after your grad degree?

[golonghorns]

Both starting and let's say after ten years?

I know we have all looked at the salary averages for careers in public service/govt affairs, however I am wondering if you believe you will fall in these numbers.

If you could also say the school you are expecting to attend, that would be helpful. This may help some people figure out how much debt they are willing to take on. Thanks.

[Monika]

I am hoping to start at fifty thousand (no matter from which school I decide to attend.) I would like to try and get to six figures. Am I being unrealistic?

[don]

it all depends on where u end up and how hard you negotiate...I'm interested in working in a multilateral organization such as the World Bank or ADB...and they have good benefits and starting salary >60k

[georgia82]

I also am planning to work in IDEV. I was thinking of a starting salary of 60-70k. I will probably be at Georgetown SFS. I believe that six figures in a decade is possible.

[40404]

wow, this thread is interesting. I am intl but I plan to work in UN, ADB and WB as well. I really hope this MA degree will open more doors for me... Are jobs in these fields affected by the economic crisis?

[golonghorns]

I also am planning to work in IDEV. I was thinking of a starting salary of 60-70k. I will probably be at Georgetown SFS. I believe that six figures in a decade is possible.

Isn't IDEV considered nonprofit? (I'm assuming)....Does 60-70k starting happen for nonprofit?

[Cornell07]

After graduation: 50-55k, unless I do foreign service, which I believe starts at a 45k or 47k pay grade for MA grads.

10 years (if I do not go back to do a PhD): Maybe 100k? Very hard to predict. I doubt it would be more.

[zourah]

wow, this thread is interesting. I am intl but I plan to work in UN, ADB and WB as well. I really hope this MA degree will open more doors for me... Are jobs in these fields affected by the economic crisis?

Not too badly yet, but as national contributions to the UN budget shrink, the impact will eventually hit, I'm sure. As for those kinds of tracks, I thought this page might be useful: The current Professional pay scale at the UN

You'd be coming in as a P-2, maybe P-3 from a Master's program. Moving up to P-4/P-5 will happen slowly, but there are incremental raises within pay grade for years of service, so it should offer a pretty good sense of things.

[kimkegaard]

40k starting. 100k after 10 years, thanks to the natural inflation.

I am not a top student and I know the reality of the job market nowadays.

[Sotototo]

Even if the job market gets better, it will be flooded with laid-off MBA people in private sectors.

50k for public sounds right.

[junebug62]

My god, 50K???? Are you people not depressed about how pathetically low that is?

If you are looking at US government, the pay scale is crystal clear:

http://www.fedjobs.com/pay/pay.html

For USG wannabes, I'd advise against settling for anything below a GS-9 when you negotiate a hiring package, which would put you around 50-60K depending on your step level and location. I'd aim for at least GS-10 with a Masters Degree, and you could probably pull a GS-11 in some cases. Depending on your organization, you can move up a grade in about a year, which can be 10K per year raise. It takes longer to get the highest grade levels, and some organizations have a reputation for promoting faster than others. You max out at around 150K, and will probably hover in the 80K range for a good part of your career. Inflation adjustment can be about 2-3 percent a year. The real payoffs are the benefits (pension AND matching contributions to a 401K type, pretty good health care, laughably easy work schedules). Plus, it is extremely difficult to get fired for incompetence. That can be a plus or a minus, but in this environment perhaps a plus. These will vary a bit by organization, as I said, but don't aim too low.

[stilesg57]

My god, 50K???? Are you people not depressed about how pathetically low that is?

Yes.

I'm not going to law school because I don't want to be a lawyer, but man I wish there were a way to make lawyer pay doing what I want to do.

Three years of work experience (all over the map, unfortunately) and an MPP I would want to make something in the $50s. My best paying job so far paid low $40s. I'm going to dual degree though and I will expect to make more if I do my second degree in a favorable-to-consulting field (Econ, Enviro, Chinese). Not sure yet. After two masters degrees I'd like to be knocking on the door of $70k, but a lot of that depends on where the economy is three years from now. Hopefully it's a lot better.

10 years from now: ~$100-120s, adjusted for inflation. Via the private sector or academia most likely.

[golonghorns]

My god, 50K???? Are you people not depressed about how pathetically low that is?

If you are looking at US government, the pay scale is crystal clear:

http://www.fedjobs.com/pay/pay.html

For USG wannabes, I'd advise against settling for anything below a GS-9 when you negotiate a hiring package, which would put you around 50-60K depending on your step level and location. I'd aim for at least GS-10 with a Masters Degree, and you could probably pull a GS-11 in some cases. Depending on your organization, you can move up a grade in about a year, which can be 10K per year raise. It takes longer to get the highest grade levels, and some organizations have a reputation for promoting faster than others. You max out at around 150K, and will probably hover in the 80K range for a good part of your career. Inflation adjustment can be about 2-3 percent a year. The real payoffs are the benefits (pension AND matching contributions to a 401K type, pretty good health care, laughably easy work schedules). Plus, it is extremely difficult to get fired for incompetence. That can be a plus or a minus, but in this environment perhaps a plus. These will vary a bit by organization, as I said, but don't aim too low.

what field are you going into junebug and what are your salary expectations?

[happyhulalola]

I am just hoping for enough money to pay my student loans (which will be at an ungodly amount in 2 years from now), afford a decent place to live and a little more than the necessities, save for retirement, and of course, save a little for travel.

[deechi]

My god, 50K???? Are you people not depressed about how pathetically low that is?

If you are looking at US government, the pay scale is crystal clear:

http://www.fedjobs.com/pay/pay.html

For USG wannabes, I'd advise against settling for anything below a GS-9 when you negotiate a hiring package, which would put you around 50-60K depending on your step level and location. I'd aim for at least GS-10 with a Masters Degree, and you could probably pull a GS-11 in some cases. Depending on your organization, you can move up a grade in about a year, which can be 10K per year raise. It takes longer to get the highest grade levels, and some organizations have a reputation for promoting faster than others. You max out at around 150K, and will probably hover in the 80K range for a good part of your career. Inflation adjustment can be about 2-3 percent a year. The real payoffs are the benefits (pension AND matching contributions to a 401K type, pretty good health care, laughably easy work schedules). Plus, it is extremely difficult to get fired for incompetence. That can be a plus or a minus, but in this environment perhaps a plus. These will vary a bit by organization, as I said, but don't aim too low.

While the numbers you quote are right, I'd caveat some of the things you are saying. There are very few USG organizations that will hire you on as anything beyond a GS-9 (DoD being a notable exception), in which case you really won't be having a "laughably easy work schedule". The only way to even really get that is through the Presidential Management fellows program (unless you have connections prior to grad school). This program is highly competitive and at best it only gets your resume a consideration which isn't much of a guarantee (I've seen only 200 finalist resumes go towards one position).

Also, other than the PMF program you aren't really guaranteed promotions in the Civil Service and it only works that way in the foreign service to a point. In fact, you often have to openly compete for promotions and the opportunities in the some of the smaller organziations are few and far between (some will have a handful to zero SES positions).

[Cornell07]

Yes.

I'm not going to law school because I don't want to be a lawyer, but man I wish there were a way to make lawyer pay doing what I want to do.

I find it somewhat amusing that I am shelling out nearly 100k to get a job that pays about as much or considerably less than my previous job as a paralegal (when you factor in overtime hours). But if that's what it takes to do the work I want to do and not do corporate finance law, hells yeah!

[junebug62]

what field are you going into junebug and what are your salary expectations?

I'm already a government employee, and I make $65K with a BA and three years of work experience. It is possible, that's why I urge folks not to get their hopes so down. Sometimes, its good to get signed on really low to encourage the organization to get you in the door, and then you work hard and get promoted quickly. I hope to either stick with economic policy work for the USG after getting a grad degree, or move into consulting or thinktank, if I get any offers.

[junebug62]

While the numbers you quote are right, I'd caveat some of the things you are saying. There are very few USG organizations that will hire you on as anything beyond a GS-9 (DoD being a notable exception), in which case you really won't be having a "laughably easy work schedule". The only way to even really get that is through the Presidential Management fellows program (unless you have connections prior to grad school). This program is highly competitive and at best it only gets your resume a consideration which isn't much of a guarantee (I've seen only 200 finalist resumes go towards one position).

Also, other than the PMF program you aren't really guaranteed promotions in the Civil Service and it only works that way in the foreign service to a point. In fact, you often have to openly compete for promotions and the opportunities in the some of the smaller organziations are few and far between (some will have a handful to zero SES positions).

Yes, I agree with your caveats. I am probably leaning too much towards the optimistic, but plausible, end of the scale. Most folks I know who graduated from SAIS, SIPA, Georgetown, etc. were hired at GS-9, some at GS-10, and in rare cases as GS-11- usually mid-careerists or those returning to prior government service. Promotion opportunities depend on where you work,as you note. I don't know enough about all the agencies to offer a good list, but if anyone has a good network I recommend researching this. You probably won't reach the highest GS-level easily, but hovering in the upper middle range can pay reasonably well.

If anyone is considering PMF, I recommend directly applying to any organization that interests you AND to the PMF. Sometimes you actually get a better offer by directly hiring. I've heard the PMF has certain requirements on what GS-level you can be hired at once you finish the program, but if you had been working at the agency for X plus years instead of doing the fellowship, you would probably already have been promoted beyond that level.

Perhaps the one lesson I pick up from this thread is that many of us will need to have two-income households to make a nice living!

[moreandmoreso]

I'm planning to work in the nonprofit sector, starting at $35,000 or $40,000. Considering that I'm squeaking by on $17,000 now while I'm in school, I think that my post-MPP salary sounds luxurious. Sure, if I take loans, then 10% or 15% (whatever the public service loan forgiveness number is) will go to loans, but that will still leave me with plenty to live on. No car, no mortgage, no kids...I can afford a low salary!

[golonghorns]

Does anyone else find it kind of ironic that everyone seems to be expecting around the same starting salary no matter which program they are attending? The question then remains: is taking out debt to go to a high-ranked program worth it....if in the end we are all going to be basically in the same boat anyway?

[stigMPA]

Does anyone else find it kind of ironic

Sadly, like rain on your wedding day, this is not an example of irony. Still a phenomenon worth considering, though.

"everyone seems to be expecting around the same starting salary no matter which program they are attending

The federal GS pay scale has a lot to do with this. Even those looking to work in NGOS, consultancy and non-profits often advance in rough equivalence to those on GS track. I'd get into specific reasons for this, but suffice it to say that they share an extended talent pool with people crossing back and forth among the sectors fairly regularly.

is taking out debt to go to a high-ranked program worth it....if in the end we are all going to be basically in the same boat anyway?

If your goals are not too specific, then yes you can do fine with a degree from any accredited program (provided you work hard). The difference in pay is not reason enough to go to an elite program.

However, government is necessarily monopolistic - there are only so many positions available at the IRS (for example) because there is only one IRS. It's not uncommon that "Dream Agency XYZ" is filled with alumni of top programs and actively recruits graduates. The old adage is that an elite diploma can get you an interview but it is your job to prove yourself. For people who have their hearts set on one of the limited number of spots at "Agency XYZ" every advantage is welcome.

How clear are your career goals? What is the hiring profile where you want to wind up ultimately? Would you be comfortable as the only representative of your school at your agency? Does your ego need the boost of a "name" school on your diploma? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself.

[OverTheOcean]

I could use some career & salary advice from those of you who have been pondering these things for a few years.

I am four years out of undergrad at U of Mich. For the last three years, I've worked as an economist for a federal government agency, working my way up to a GS-12 salary. Within another year or two, there's a good chance I'll be able to move on to a GS-13 position, which pays about $85K/year with the locality adjustment. As the saying goes, that's nothing to shake a stick at.

The problem I have is with the job I'm doing - I don't completely loathe it, but I'm not at all passionate about it. I do it because I can. Frequently, I come home and think about the major goal I had while at Michigan, and while interning w/ a state policy ofice - namely, to pursue an MPP after I had a few years of work experience under my belt. Now, here I am with the experience, and a reputable GRE score that will be expiring after this year - and I don't know what to do. I'd love to drop everything, apply this winter, and go study public budgeting and management. However, while I've certainly never considered myself to be consumed by money or a high salary, reading this thread has me a bit creeped out. Both my wife and I are working to pay down our undergraduate debt, and the idea of entering grad school to get a job that will potentially pay me $30-40K less than I'd be making without grad school...well, let's just say the economist in me is protesting loudly.

Do any of you have experience making this sort of trade off? Am I foolish to want to leave the job? Am I foolish NOT to leave it? Any and all input is appreciated - thanks for hearing me out.

[pepper84]

OvertheOcean,

I hear you, re the economist protesting--and I'm not even an economist. On my end, it's the rationalist asking me why the hell I'm quitting a stable, able-to-pay-the-bills-paying job to go back to graduate school and incur loads and loads of debt. Wow, just writing that out gives me a cold chill up my spine.

However, like you said, this is something I have been mulling over for a few years. You're four years out, you sound confident that you want this, you know exactly what you want to study. With the GREs out of the way (an expense, to be sure!), my advice would be that you have nothing to lose by applying, at the very least. Do some research, pick 2-5 schools that really focus on what you might like to do, and go for it. You never know--maybe after you go through the process, you won't want to do it. Maybe your dream school will offer you funding. Maybe you'll be so excited about getting in that you'll KNOW you want to do it. To me, the application fees seem like a small price to pay for being able to take that next step.

[ebee]

If I can jump back in to federal gov't work in DC, then I'd plan on mid 50-60s starting salary. If I get in to study abroad/international education, the I can probably expect to go down in the 30-40s, lol.

[junebug62]

OvertheOcean, I am not very wise or experienced, but as a fellow government employee, I thought rejoining the federal workforce post-grad school would let you maintain your the GS-level you had when you left? You don't need to jump into entry-level positions with a prior record of employment...I think. Might be a good thing to double check. Also, your agency has no education subsidy programs? Granted, these often require you to sign away more years of your life to the organization in return...