Really- Pay is all relative to what you could get in other jobs with your level of experience, education and performance. Over the years I've discovered that most AD people really have an inflated/ distorted sense of what pay is on the outside and where they stand relative to what they would likely make on the outside, and they also seriously undervalue the tax advantages that they get in some of their pays. The number of Junior officers who I have talked with who expect to walk into mid 6 figures if they leave to try their hand at the outside economy is pretty high, mostly because they read a cover story in Fortune magazine about a handful of superstars who walk into the right situation at the right time with the right creds.
True, so so true. Having 100% of your paycheck taxed is like jumping into freezing water.
What JOs are you talking to Bruno? They're expecting $500K?
Honestly, the starting salary of a GS-14 in DC (where there is pretty good locale pay) is $105,000. A GS-14 is roughly equivalent to an O-5. O-5 roughly have 20+ years experience. Yes, there is a nice chunk of that O-5 pay that isn't taxed (and yes, that makes a difference). I wouldn't expect a 6 figure salary immediately after jumping ship, especially comparing your O-3 or O-4 pay to the private sector. There are exceptions, of course. Security clearances are good, but they aren't the golden ticket they're made out to be (blame that on the liberal allocation of clearances).
That said, things happen. When I left the Coast Guard I was sure I had a job lined up, but it didn't happen. Then we had a federal hiring freeze, so I shifted entirely to the private sector. I even walked dogs (with a dog walking company) part time to make some money and get out of the house. Nothing was happening for me... and then finally I got an offer, and a second better offer, which I took. That second offer was slightly less than the "equivalent" salary I would have been making, according to some websites, based on my base pay, BAH etc. A month later I had an even bigger salary.
And then 5 months later I was recruited by a grad school professor for an even better salary that I'm very happy with.
But it was never a "people will love you TS clearance and will bust down doors to get to you." There was interest, some worked out, most didn't and when i felt my worst, everything came together and half a year later got much better.
Certainly my idea of the private sector being an endless money pit was quickly corrected, and the idea that my officer pay "undervalued" my skills wasn't accurate either.
The officer corps may not make you rich, but a two officer household will get you very close to that "well off.... we want to tax you more" threshhold the President and Vice President would have you believe only applies to jet setting malpractice lawyers and CEOs. You realize quickly combined households of $200K or $250K are attainable by two O-5 or O-6 households.