More of a HR/Salary Question

[Stealth]

Hi all. I joined this forum because I just started my career in the federal government. It wasn't even a week yet and on Friday I received a call from a government agency (non-federal) that offered me more pay. Pay isn't everything but I want to make an informed decision.

I'd like some help in calculating my future salary with the federal government. My understanding is that 1102's Contract Specialists get a grade promotion every year. I would also be aggressive in obtaining the FAC-C necessary to get my grade promotions. Locality is Washington, D.C. The job is ladder to 13.

I just started as a GS-9 Step 10. Next year, it seems like I would be a GS-11 Step 5 right (2-step rule)? Year 3 I would start making a GS-12 Step 3 salary and starting Year 4 a GS-13 Step 2. Is this right? I feel like I might be off with the steps.

[Constricting Officer]

WIFCON stands for "Where in Federal Contracting."

You are in the wrong forum for these questions. 

[joel hoffman]

Seems like a question concerning employment in the contracting workforce as a contract specialist that would fit under this topic area. Might not attract any interest or advice but involves workforce issue. 

[formerfed]

Stealth,

That looks about right.  Verify by using the government salary table.  Take whatever the salary is at the base grade/step, move up to the promoted grade, match the base salary against the closet amount at the promoted grade, and then add two steps. 
 

I personally would make decisions about jobs based on how interesting and challenging work assignments are.  If you’re in DC, you have many choices for 1102 jobs.  

[Freyr]

First off, congrats finding a ladder that goes to 13, most go to 12. That said, those yearly promotions are not guaranteed and you still need to be meeting your performance goals to obtain them typically. Some offices will just promote you on the clock, others are more strict on deciding when they get to promote you (DHS for example will hire folks at 12/13 ladder positions and never give them a 13). 

Formerfed really nailed it though, pick jobs based on the work you want to do, work/life happiness, and your own goals. In DC you can get to a 15 relatively easily if you're smart, work hard, and can play the office politics. Downside of DC is that you're in DC which (in my opinion) gets old fast.

FederalSoup's forum is also a great place for these types of questions, you'll get less people saying that this isn't the forum for it (even though this is a subsection for the Contracting Workforce).