Originally Posted by: ravens34 
I am a GS-12 all source analyst in the IC with an active TS/SCI but no poly. I have a MS in engineering, but haven't done any real engineering in 6 years. This is open ended, but should I be looking at contractor jobs? How much do contractor jobs pay? Is the salary increase worth the loss of job security and FERS? What types of jobs would I be qualified for with my background?
Hi,
Im on my last week as a DoD/DoN contractor and a hiring manager in the IT/Engineering and Program/Project Management field . I just got my final offer for GS 12 last week yay! Took a huge pay cut.
The money is great, lots of flexibility, you'll work with brilliant people and the benefits are decent. The biggest downside is like others have said is the lack of stability.
Basically you could be hired tomorrow as a contractor at $70-150k easy(depending on location and your field) BUT you could literally be laid off the next day for any reason(funding, RIF's, change in billets or losing a recompete). Unfortunately Ive seen it too many times and thats why I decided to go fed. The other downside most contractors watch out for is the "customer" factor. Basically some commands or agencies can be very very difficult to work for so you could end up in a high stress environment with a very high turn over rate, which definitely disrupts the work quality since you will lose intellectual capital constantly. I worked for a very very difficult Navy command(known in the industry for being difficult), great money but high stress. Make sure you ask about the "customer" during your interview.
Other risks to consider: Type of contractors, Contract length, how long has the contractor held the contract and most importantly is the position already funded.
To sum it up: It really depends on your situation. If you prefer money over stability "high risk high reward" go contractor. Keep in mind you also need to have relevant experience and industry certifications to be successful in that environment. Let me know if you have specific questions I'll be happy to answer them.
Good luck!
Edited by user Friday, June 01, 2018 6:39:29 PM(UTC)
| Reason: My grammar is horrible today sorry!