[kristopolous]

The federal government pays pretty well for scientists and engineers.

I've got a few friends at JPL and they are paid around that.

I was a researcher under UC Regents many years ago, run by the state of California. That pay, however, was terrible. When I left for private industry I asked for double what I had been making and they considered me a bargain.

[walrus01]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the pay can also be considerably higher if you work at a federally funded research lab but are not a direct federal employee. Employee of an implementing contractor company. Such as various positions at Hanford, Idaho National Lab, Los Alamos, Brookhaven, Argonne, Sandia, Livermore, etc.

[ptero]

This is definitely true. Most employees at national labs are not paid according to the GS schedule.

[nataz]

They are also not federal employees.

[ninjaa]

they should hook up military discounts

[lannisterstark]

Eeeh, not really, no it doesn't lol.

Not compared to what private companies could be paying them.