[FactualActuals]

I get paid a decent salary with room to grow in the government. I am not on the GS scale though so my pay increases are much higher than someone on it. I have a strict 40 hour work week, currently get 20 annual leave days and 13 sick days a year, TSP with matching contributions, and FEHB. I've always considered leaving to make more money but the thing that always holds me back is the guaranteed pension if I stay in until my minimum retirement age. I always decided that stability was better for me because I watched my parents struggle when things weren't stable for them.

[arcanus]

What is the pension expected payment?

You could estimate the pension as a risk free asset, paying approximately 4% a year. That would give you a comparison between what you need to save in industry vs. the government. For example of the pension is 200k a year, you would need to have saved 5 million in industry for the equivalent.

[FactualActuals]

If I don't go into management, and assuming there are absolutely no more cost of living adjustments or changes to how much my pay scale pays, my salary will cap out around 150k a year.

If I go into management, whether it's technical leadership or as a normal manager, then I could cap out around 176k a year.

I don't recall off the top of my head how much that translates to per month with pension.