<p>Not necessarily. That’s just one example of how it is possible.</p>
<p>Many federal agencies are moving to a “Pay Band” system instead of the GS pay scale. It allows more flexibility and higher ceilings. However, promotions are less guaranteed under the system. It’s the effect of a drive for “pay for performance”.</p>
<p>For example, without the LEAP pay that FLEOs would get, a GS-9 at the NSA would be making peanuts compared to what the same person would make at a defense contractor that does the same work at the same site. The “Pay Band” system was designed to allow those agencies to better compete with the private sector.</p>
<p>The problem I see with most literature regarding “expected salaries for career field/position” is that they never take into account opportunity costs.</p>
<p>Investment banking with 60+ hours a week represents a huge opportunity cost. You are giving up a lot of diversification and putting all your eggs in one basket in hopes that you excel over the person standing next to you who is equally talented and motivated.</p>