[globosapien]

Does anyone work for the government? or does anyone want to?

someone i know got transferred to cali b/c he got a job with us immigration.

i think it's a steady field esp if you're planning on having a family soon.

let's share ideas here.

[angelqian]

it doesn't pay well but I hear the benefits are good (unless you're doing contracting work, then I think it pays ok, especially defense).

[Lebanese_Blonde]

I had a GS job...i think they're generally pretty easy to obtain. Yeah, they're stable, very unlikely to get laid off and all. I wasn't supporting a family, but I know if you do you will have many benefits. Working a GS job overseas is pretty good too because you have an opportunity to get COLA pay and you'll get to live in a pretty nice home. As you get seniority and and experience and you get promoted to higher GS ranks they pay does get better but i don't know what you consider good pay

[globosapien]

^were u working for the state dept? sounds like it, since u are talking about overseas assignments and all.

as of now, i'm willing to take a huge pay cut (as in i'd take federal over private) just for the benefits.
not that i'm supporting a family or anything, but i'd like a stable job and the govt provides that.

and another question.
when you say it's easy to obtain.. do you mean as long as you have a degree and stuff like that?

i was offered a contract linguist job with the fbi but i didn't pass phase 3 of the exam... don't know if i want to take it again. 35/ph isn't bad at all, but i would like to be in the federal system in case i want to transfer to another dept.

[luvxholic]

i'm considering it but there are so many opportunities i wouldn't know where to begin... what is the average starting pay for someone fresh out of college?

[globosapien]

^like you said, it depends on the field you choose.

i'd say it's a safe range between 20K to about 45K

try looking at the GS pay scale.