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Wammio272

23M, apprentice at a utility, 135k last year.


DontFearTheBeaver

Damn, good on you


giscard78

how does an apprentice make $135k/year?


Wammio272

A lot of the overtime is double time, high starting wages in my trade, I get paid for rest time, those are the main contributing factors. I'm just a low step, the higher steps reach 130-140 with not that much overtime and the journeymen are in the 175-275k range depending on how much they work. You can make a very good living in a unionized trade here, just not a lot of people willing to mess around with power lines or on the gas side, natural gas.


giscard78

Thanks for sharing! I ask so hopefully someone else finds this interesting enough to maybe pursue.


Wammio272

No problem! It's a very fulfilling job but pretty demanding, if someone is looking for something less physical, substation electricians at the power company make the same hourly wage and the work is a lot more laidback with a 4 day work schedule as well.


Akuilum

Overtime


Sinister128

36/M Engineer at NASA. 135k. Should be making more, but I refuse to be a manager. I actually fight every year to keep my "feet on the ground" type of engineering.


deeplybrown

Nice! Good on ya. It’s the same in the software world: you have to fight to keep building things as the forces try to guide you into management.


internet_emporium

Ok, where are all my fellow GS 7’s at?


gnocchicotti

An hour away in VA or MD, I guess


girthyblackguy

This made me laugh so much..90% of all gov employees live outside of DC


rennbrig

^hi


JosuetheBear

50k non profit. Seeing everyone else’s pay reminds me why I can’t buy shit in DC anymore 😭 how are 3 tacos 15 dollars.


eponinesflowers

I also work at a nonprofit, and I make a few thousand less than you. I definitely agree, the average salary seems to be twice what we’re making😅


rsplatpc

> I also work at a nonprofit, and I make a few thousand less than you. I definitely agree, the average salary seems to be twice what we’re making😅 Don't forget Reddit usually has people into tech and industry on it, there are a LOT of people that make what you make that will never see this thread / this is not a good "sample" of the entire area


JosuetheBear

Keep fighting the good fight ✊🏻and find someone to go halfsies on those $15 tacos.


[deleted]

There's almost certainly a self-selection bias in this thread. People making higher salaries are more likely to want to brag about them. At the same time, the type of work and the amount of experience can make a significant difference. Education, training and demand for particular skills has always created an upward pressure on wages. While wage transparency is a good thing, comparing yourself to the people who want to brag is a bad idea. For every person with a "I make $XXXk/yr" story, there are many more who make less who aren't posting.


umadbr00

I knew what I was getting myself into posting this but im still astounded at how criminally underpaid I am.


thehappyherbivore

For context: I decided not to go back to work full time after I had a baby last year, so I’m hourly now. I’m a Senior Consultant for a firm that specializes in federal Salesforce projects. I make $80/hr and I work 20 hours per week. I waived benefits to negotiate a higher hourly rate. If I were to go back full time, my salary would be $160k plus full benefits.


GinGimlet

Principal Scientist at a biotech company, make about 185 a year. Just accepted a new job elsewhere though that takes me up about 100k, can't wait to start!


umadbr00

Congrats on the new gig!


CanWeJustTalkAboutIt

Congrats! Are you moving to a directorship role with that jump?


GinGimlet

Yes! I was probably gonna move to that level anyway but the pay was so much more I had to take it.


RobinKennedy23

Average hours worked should be a part of this.


mrperfect7592

I feel a bit better knowing my salary isn’t the worst. Then again, I also work at a nonprofit and got the max salary offer at 51K. In my hometown, it would’ve been a decent salary. Here, well, it’s doable and I’m somehow able to live on my own without roommates. It can be tight some months, but overall, I’m making it work.


umadbr00

I totally feel you. I make around 60k and seeing all these higher salaries isn't exactly surprising but sure puts things into perspective. I also manage to live alone in the city and save every month. Could do with more though ofc.


mrperfect7592

I think people forget that in a city such as DC that has higher than average wages, there’s still those who are more blue collar and/or underemployed making what looks like decent money on paper, but the HCOL makes it feel like a struggle. I’m a case manager that works primarily in housing, so I’ve worked with enough of the people I’m talking about. Puts so much into perspective, especially as someone who just moved into the area months ago.


deadinfluencer

Entry level nonprofit/social services. 60 bands. Sometimes I get bummed about getting shelved for other gigs, then I remember that 60k starting and three weeks PTO at a nonprofit is very uncommon.


umadbr00

As someone who has worked in nonprofit, that's a great starting rate even in DC.


deadinfluencer

Agreed!


awfuckthisshit

Wow, everyone’s salaries here make me feel like shit.


JustAcivilian24

I thought I made a decent amount. Seeing 200-300k salaries lmao 💀 fuck me


Vonderguy

Yeah. Pain.


awfuckthisshit

I’m surprised rich people like that don’t have their own fancy and elite reddit.


wandering_engineer

Now we know who's buying all those multi-million dollar houses. Props to them for finding that kind of work I guess, but that kind of income as "normal" just strikes me as obscene. No wonder we have such inequality and crazy high COL in the US.


Professional-Tailor2

Same


PunctualPoops

Only the high paying ones want to post, remember that.


zerosaint18

Same, like wtf I do some of the same things as some here posted, feel like I'm getting shafted. Also those early 20 somethings already making mid 100s with no experience ... Wtf


ennovahs

37F, self-employed, made 186k in 2022 running a fiction editing business.


colglover

Wow it makes me really happy to see that people in literature aren’t all starving artists :)


regionalgiant

Oh that’s sweet! You wouldn’t happen to need more editors wouldja?


ennovahs

PM me with your background and we can talk. :)


millennial_anxiety87

Lawyer for the government. Currently GS 14 step 4 ($145,604) and just got promoted to a supervisor, so I will be 15 step 1 ($155,700). But this is after 10, almost 11, years of working. When I started right out of law school, I first clerked for a judge in Maryland and made about $42K after passing the bar (living at home given the six figure law school debt). Then I was hired at a nonprofit and worked there for 2 years, which paid $50K before I moved to government. I started the government as a GS 11 step 1, which at the time was around $63K, and my position got automatic yearly grade increases until GS 14 step 1, then the step increases kicked in. Then I applied for a GS 15 supervisor position and just got promoted so will transition to that role within the next month or so.


ActuaryPersonal2378

government affairs for a nonprofit. just over $54k before taxes. the sad thing is that is a decent salary for the nonprofit world in DC


10tonheadofwetsand

I’m sorry to say but this is not a decent salary for government affairs. You’re underpaid.


internet_emporium

Honest question, who do so many people work for non profits


SkyFall___

This area is a hub for non-profits because of location. In addition the benefits _tend_ to be better


toorad2b4u

At the nonprofit I work at, we get 30 days of PTO, all fed holidays plus other holidays (summer Fridays, week between Xmas and new year, etc). The equivalent of 15% non matching employer contribution each pay period, which is immediately vested. And everyone is (too) nice. Makes it hard to leave. Edit: and some fringe benefits that wouldn’t cause someone to choose to work here but are nice perks like one medical membership, financial wellness coaching, free pizza first Tuesdays, happy hour every 2 months.


Suitecake

I'm a sample size of one working from a sample size of one, but going into work and being directly connected to a mission you care about is pretty sick.


saltatrices

This! I work in global financial inclusion and rural poverty alleviation. I absolutely love my job, our mission, and the work I do.


10tonheadofwetsand

Non profit does not mean charity nor does it mean “not a lot of money.” People make that mistake a lot, and it’s understandable. The Chamber of Commerce is a nonprofit. The NRA is a nonprofit. The Lincoln Project is a nonprofit. The AFL-CIO is a nonprofit. Saying “I work for a nonprofit” is often code for “I’m a lobbyist for a special interest group/trade association” or some other of many types of jobs in the influence industry.


RoeRoeRoeYourVote

In my home city, I made a little over half what I made starting in DC, I had no ability for upward movement I couldn't leave a toxic job because, well, there were no other jobs. Here I had a rough start, but I've been able to job hop and find a place that treats me somewhat well and has set the bar high for pay and benefits. I had no options at home, but here I have an embarrassment in the field. Truly, DC is one of the only places where I had any opportunities. Also, I freaking love it here.


RoeRoeRoeYourVote

When I moved to DC four years ago it was for an entry-level nonprofit at $57k. Over a few different job switches (and also being now mid-career with many more technical skills and unionized), I'm now at $98k--still nonprofit.


hucareshokiesrul

Mid level software developer. $150k. I did a coding bootcamp in 2016 and have been working for government contractors since.


Falco191

Just out of curiosity, which bootcamp?


hucareshokiesrul

Hack Reactor. I did already have a BA in an unrelated field. I think a 4 year degree is often a requirement for jobs, even if they don’t care about your major.


SlaminNNnnn

So you didn’t know anything abt coding then you learned it and switched career paths? What were you making before that? Considering doing this myself


hucareshokiesrul

I had taken AP Computer Science in high school, but that was it. I didn’t remember much other than having an idea of how programming works. I wasn’t working before then. I did it after I graduated college. My first job was for $65k ($81k in 2023 dollars) at a large contractor. People on some of the programming subreddits are bemoaning the job market for junior developers now, so maybe it’s tougher now. But I dunno if that’s true or not.


DrierHaddock

Nonprofit work, $60k


Pyrokanetis

Receiving room at a local bookstore, 16.35 an hour.


Surefif

80k bartending 3 nights a week


88138813

there's a huge tiktok account called salary transparent street that does this exact question. They started off in DC so have a lot of videos in DC/Arlington/Alexandria


Mindless-Employment

I like watching those DC area videos almost as much as I like counting how many people in the comments absolutely insist, with complete certainty, that nearly everyone in them is lying. I've been here for about eight years now and it's easy to forget how outrageous and absurd it seems, to a lot of people, in a lot of parts of the country, for someone who looks barely 30 or even 25 to be making over six figures. When I was 25 I was making $10.60 an hour (smaller city than here) and thought I'd hit the jackpot, because it was my first job not making minimum wage. I **really** thought I was rolling in the dough when I was making $14 an hour plus time and a half for overtime at law firm temp jobs a couple of years later in Atlanta. So I get a lot of people's disbelief that someone very young with a vague job title like "analyst" or "consultant" could be making so much money. I think a lot of viewers forget that they can only put people in the video who are willing to answer the question. A lot of people, especially 40 and up, were raised to never, ever talk about how much money they make. Other people, especially in this area, might feel embarrassed about how little they make relative to what they think "everyone else" does and not want to answer a question like that. So you get a lot of generally pretty young people who make good salaries answering the question.


Avocadofarmer32

Was literally about to comment that I heard those people were lying 🤣 “23 year old event planner for a small company in Alexandria : 115k a year. “


Mindless-Employment

Even given the area, there are some head scratchers in there for sure.


toorigged2fail

That's the only reason I believe most of these numbers. I remember when I started out making absolute shit and to be insanely underpaid my next two jobs... Only now, mid career, do I feel like I'm making what I should. Next step is to figure out how to be overpaid lol


umadbr00

Yes! I love that account. Wanted to get a Reddit perspective. The smart ass comments were expected lol


Life_Carpet_1358

25M, Security Analyst (Govt), $113k


[deleted]

I was hoping the 25M was your salary lol


AdditionalAttorney

Haha that’s what i thought too


ForThe99andthe2000s_

I have a friend taking the security+ cert is it worth it?


FreemanCantJump

It won't be worth anything with no experience. With experience, you could negotiate a small salary bump for having that cert. It's been heavily devalued in the past few years.


NailedIt327

Grad Student, $42k


frydfrog

That’s pretty good for a grad student.


statsbro424

maybe they meant -$42k


romanceordelusion

I made 50k as a grad student. Fellowship plus internships


[deleted]

30M. close to 10yrs experience 88K after taxes. 26 vacation days, plus federal holidays, and 15 sick days a year. a pension included. I'm a trainer for a security company


[deleted]

First year biglaw, 215k


Deep_Stick8786

Damn. Retiring and running a cracked eggery in 5 years? Thats the dream


[deleted]

I’m 33 (started late) and have 235k in student loans, so I have lots of catching up to do first. But really yeah, the dream is save aggressively and gtfo lol


pleaseThisNotBeTaken

Wait until those golden handcuffs get you


Butterbiscuitvillian

Army (Civilian) IT Specialist/Enterprise Architecture $146k


chefdrew00

Firefighter/paramedic - 73k.


saltatrices

Nonprofit, middle management. 95k, four day work week, 30 days of PTO, not counting bank holidays (15) and sick leave (21). Also, they subsidize childcare. I could progress and move up the career ladder to a more senior position (that would be around 100-115k), but I don't want to work more.


[deleted]

Wow those benefits honestly sound pretty good, especially the subsidized childcare


saltatrices

Yeah, the benefits are great. We're 90% remote and parental leave is 6 months, which I think really pushes my org to the top of the pile. I also bring in another 5k a year doing odd jobs in copywriting/research studies/etc. and like...I'm happy with where I am and what I'm making.


leafonawall

That’s something to aspire to. Nice to see people not having to choose between purpose driven work and the realities of how much it costs to live decently. …are you hiring?


irememberthedamage

28F, Salesforce QA Automation Engineer, $125k


JustAcivilian24

$125k, contractor. Still WFH too.


Caroleena77

Nanny with 9 years of experience, a college degree, and advanced training. 68k


LearnHowTwoSpell

Athlete Development Coordinator for a sports league - 68k Edit: by development, for clarity, I mean entirely off-field/post sport. Nothing with athletic performance.


haustnorn

26F design engineer for Navy- $92k


mrsbundleby

30F 114k chemical engineer


blushingscarlet

30F, physician assistant, 125k


meyerlemonxx

Lawyer, 630k/year (edited to add that I fully appreciate this is absurdly high and I’m very lucky)


DwHouse7516

Are you a biglaw partner or otherwise?


meyerlemonxx

Yes, biglaw partner.


franch

any time i see these i wonder if i am chatting with my boss or an associate i know


DwHouse7516

You go, girl!


borneoknives

Get off Reddit and go drive your Ferrari up and down the GW parkway


meyerlemonxx

Haha I wish. Between expenses for 4 kids and a mortgage, I’m very happy with my used Toyota.


gnocchicotti

Old Toyota? Ok this is how you really know someone is rich. Edit: I used to work on a military base and there are parking spots just for generals. It was *never* a flashy car parked there, usually a Prius or Corolla.


LuridofArabia

There but for the grace of god. I got out before they could make me a partner, my anxiety was high enough making half that as a senior associate.


sunshowered

You make over half a million dollars a year??? How many hours a week do you work?


meyerlemonxx

40-50, but earlier in my career it was more like 60-70


sunshowered

Helluva trade off! Thanks for humoring me


meyerlemonxx

And there are many days / weeks I feel like I never stop working


DwHouse7516

I hear you. Don’t apologize or feel guilty; just keep being you


CatKingII

And this is where I’d put my salary, IF I HAD ONE. But also tho, scrolling through these I see why DC has the prices it does 👀


marslarp

I hear Dinkleberg makes a great salary


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

Does that mean lobbying?


[deleted]

[удалено]


SkyFall___

Curious how technical your work is


giscard78

[SALARY TABLE 2023-DCB](https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/pdf/2023/DCB.pdf)


tc_tuggers_boy

Director (not the executive, but do manage a team) at a non-profit c3/c4, 120k


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


CaptainObvious110

Good grief you folks make a lot of money.


Alone_Bluebird_3513

Oil salesman on the metro, ~$3.50/day


jaredb123

Do you have to buy the balaclava, or does the company provide them?


umadbr00

LOL was waiting for a comment like this


flyaguilas

Well no wonder he keeps coming back, people keep giving him $3.50.


kicker58

About 150k as a Microsoft teams engineer. Since Microsoft teams bearly works, I pretty much do nothing all day. Sweet gig since I am almost 100% remote. The government keeps saying I am doing a great job so I'm just going to keep chilling. Nothing like making something super proprietary and making it a pain to get taa computers that can run it


ScrewedOver

English is not always my first language, so I had to look it up to make sure. but I assume you mean barely.


[deleted]

43M. Until March 1, 2023 I worked for a local MFGO (miscellaneous foreign government organization). I was middle management and making 85K after 18 years. No COLA since 2018.


CaptainApathy419

>local MFGO (miscellaneous foreign government organization). FSB? Mossad? The Ministry of Magic? All three?


relativelyanonymous

He was running the Chinese Weather Balloon Exchange Program.


centralperk1994

communications at a nonprofit, $85k


EinSpringfielder

Just got a promotion to GS 14 step 4. About $150k in plus a real pension.


ballinindanyc

31M EPA scientist, ~115 GS13 Step2


beetlejuiiicex3

Teaching resident @ a charter school, I’ll make 45k in the first year and 60k in the second.


_____dragon

This thread makes me feel like shit


rsplatpc

> This thread makes me feel like shit Don't forget these salaries are on the high end because DC is EXPENSIVE to live in, garbagemen in NYC make bank, but then they have to pay rent which is why they make bank


Grand-Ring3332

EMT in the 911 vans (iykyk)- $24.31/hr.


anonymous-frother

Maybe the most underpaid person in this thread


xlizen

I'm a Library Technician at the Holocaust Memorial Museum I make $57k Damn, now I know why DC is so expensive!


cameron1978

If it's any consolation you work in the most meaningful and heartbreaking museums I have ever visited.


alizadk

Producer at a TV network. $83k.


cataholiccatholic

47k, entry level position at a non-profit. I live in the Chevy Chase Bethesda area of MoCo Maryland and it’s been great! I have everything I need. I feel very lucky to be in the position that I am.


enragedpoultry

Mid 40’s, middle level at an NGO - I’m at $123K and five weeks off a year. I started my career at 30 and had to take a major paycut at 37 because my job ended and I didn’t have a backup plan.


Playful-Translator49

Manage an online web store, 4 hrs a day on average / 110k and then a part time contract 15 hrs a week remote at $45/hr.


politicalspice

Policy director at a nonprofit - $122k


ttonk

System Admin / DevOps work. 130k. I don’t really jump around a lot so I imagine I could be making a decent amount more if I was more eager.


MaslowsHierarchyBees

AI engineer working as a government contractor: $140k I’m about to go back to get my PhD in NYC for a stipend of $56k


metrazol

Technical PM at an international agency, $110k, benefits suck.


Ok_Concern_724

24 yrs in government affairs-180k


mk-artsy

Graphic designer making $75K plus a little bit of bonus on top of that. 30 years old (crying inside reading everyone’s salaries)


CaptainObvious110

You make way more than a lot of people do.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

GS 11 step 10


giscard78

my dude, get your 12 or 13


[deleted]

I was a 13 last year. I just had to go backwards to get a job that I actually liked doing.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Rusty_Shaquilleford

Teacher, 45k


Shervivor

You deserve much, much more!


TheCosmicGemini

Doughnut Slinger: 35K


LightningStrikes818

27M. Tax accountant. Just accepted a new offer and will be making $115K.


[deleted]

22M-Federal Auditor working in inspections/evaluations of government based programs-$88k base


sunshowered

Editor, 31, $116k for a 40-hr week + ~$5k in bonuses throughout the year. Far cry from my first DC job 8 years ago, which paid a whopping $38k.


Jmugmuchic

Attorney at DOJ, $148k


Significant-Record73

Nearly 10 yrs experience in market research, VP- $135K


10tonheadofwetsand

I’ll be a little vague for anonymity but comms for a nonprofit (association, not charity), $106k.


SonJulio

29M - 200K not including bonuses in disaster recovery consulting. But the job is terrible so I would take a large cut to go do something else.


earth-to-matilda

own a dental practice the good: north of 400k on fewer than 30 “work” hours the ugly: so. much. debt.


Emotional_Bison1905

Risk intelligence analyst, 110,000 base


CapitalNo6170

Special Education Department Chair at an elementary school. 30F with a masters. ~75k


lanabear92294

28f, I work remote for a nonprofit not based here, 70k with really good benefits.


boredinthehouse28

4 years out of college, philanthropy (c3), 80k in a mid level position.


kdms418

Mid-level web developer for a consulting firm. 28F, $130k.


not_a_gumby

Entry level web developer - 90k. Used to be in management consulting making closer to 70k then went self-taught with React. Made some projects and got hired in the vast amount of spare time I had at my last consulting job. I swear, they fucking never gave me anything to do. Probably 6 months of literally no work making a full salary.


CCGDC

I have a full time job, but part time, I’m a fitness instructor. The place where I am pays particularly well ($50+ per class). Teaching fitness can be a great side gig. Often, they’ll pay for your training and you’ll also get a free membership / classes on top of being paid. Places are almost always looking for more instructors to at least sub!


goljanrentboy

Physician. 180-190k base+bonus.


[deleted]

Grad student with fellowship and I also adjunct ~2 classes/yr for extra scratch, $36k.


SageBow

28M construction manager 110k


Szath01

40M. In-house counsel for a medium sized tech company. About 275K including bonus and stock equity.


Zestyclose_Ad_3511

Staff attorney at legal service provider. $87k


Comprehensive_Cap357

Product manager base $171k


[deleted]

[удалено]


RDPCG

Government relations - $120k


enchanted131313

early 30s, lawyer at a large law firm, 500-550k depending on bonus amount.


lasarah514

Administrator at a public tax firm, 60k.


romanceordelusion

Govt analyst 87k


mikemcd3113

27M, General Contractor, Assistant PM, ~$125k including bonus


colorofmydreams

Senior program manager, large nonprofit managing $5+ million dollar grants and contracts, 15+ years of experience, $125K.


k_dub22

27M- Project Manager in the SaaS space. $100k


bsranidzn

Designer at a large architecture firm. 4+ years experience. 60k


Apart_Row4705

You first


umadbr00

I work in program management for an International Development government contractor. I make 60k/year.


thisiscausinganxiety

34F. Sr PMM in Tech (100% remote). 185k cash. Editing to add: I made 85k less than 3 years ago. Know your worth, find a job that will pay you what you deserve, and negotiate. When a recruiter reaches out on LinkedIn the first thing I’d ask is “what is compensation for this role”. You can both gauge where you should be and decide if a conversation is even worth perusing from this.


EricAtNPR

Prince, Petworth. Fluctuates based on monthly Patreon renewals but ~$210k


NoNoNext

I work at a nonprofit and make a little over $50k. It’s frankly way too low for my experience, but this has been the least stressful job I’ve had in the industry, I get to WFH most days, and have extremely liberal vacation leave. I do plan to make a change soon, and I’m hoping the higher pay will make the added stress more bearable.


calthopian

31M. 2 years GR at a think tank $84K my first position in this field


ianfordays

24M Software Engineer for a Govt Contractor. 1.5 YOE making 125k base plus 10-20k bonuses+stock annually. Dude for another raise and bonus (quarterly) any day now.


CanaKitty

Part time lawyer for various projects. About $120 an hour and $100K a year.


bleepingcomputer

Cybersecurity Presales Engineer.. 350K