GS Employees - Were you able to negotiate your step within your grade when first hired?

Maj Matt Hylton — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:55:39 -0500

I have a question for any current/former GS employees that also had military experience.

Were you able to negotiate your starting salary (step within a grade) when you were first offered a position or did you just take a Step 1?

I have been told that I should be able to negotiate my step based off previous experience within an equivalent grade and based on experience with the job I am being hire to perform.

My situation - I've just been tentatively offered a GS-1101-13 position and I'm scheduled to separate from the Air Force as a Major on 30 Apr 15. I have 3 years as a Major and I've been tentatively hired under the expedited hiring authority for acquisition program managers as a by-name-request hire for this position. It is also for a job I just recently held as a Major that has been vacant since I left that office about 6 months ago. They received a new GS-13 billet from HQ to hire against the position and that is the main reason I was by-name-requested for the job.

I've also been told I should use my current salary as part of the bargaining discussion, to include BAS and BAH since it can show that I am currently getting paid $XX and that they are trying to hire me for the exact same job/position, but are currently offering me less than $XX.

Does anyone else out there have experience doing this when they were hired? Any success getting hired above a step 1 within the grade you were offered?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 3:58 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 15:58:22 -0500

It's certainly allowed. Whether or not you can convince the hiring manager to go along with it is an entirely different matter.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 4:44 PM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 16:44:05 -0500

Please let us know how it goes.

Response by SSgt Kevin Chavez made Feb 19 at 2015 5:17 PM

SSgt Kevin Chavez — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 17:17:15 -0500

I was told by a GS Employee that when hired if you can prove your last wage, you can request an increase, does not mean you will get it, but its worth a try.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 6:39 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 18:39:32 -0500

Sir, when I first started as a GS civilian (2006), I was able to bring in an offer from industry, from a contractor, in writing, and the Army matched that offer. So, I started as a GS-13, step 5. Things seem to have tightened up in this regard though. A guy I work very closely with left the contractor world about one year ago. He was making way more than GS-13, step 10, but the best he could get was GS-13, step 5, and that took a lot of wheeling and dealing.

It never hurts to negotiate for the best deal you can get, especially since you are a by-name request hire. I think you should be able to get steps, but I'll bet it depends on your location, your specialty, etc. I think the by-name deal might help you. Good luck!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 10:34 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 22:34:17 -0500

They will determine the grade you start at from the position and your experience. Your negotiations for the step will be based upon your current salary. If one is coming from AD, I'm under the impression that they will only take your AD base pay into consideration. They won't let you include the monthly allowances. I could be wrong about that last part, but it's what I was told.

Response by Maj Matt Hylton made Mar 9 at 2015 10:04 AM

Maj Matt Hylton — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 10:04:34 -0400

FYI for anybody that is looking for a job with the Air Force, if you are a new hire, don't expect anything other than a Step 1.

This is what I finally got after several back and forth rounds with AFPC and the local Civilian Personnel Flight:

From AFI36-802:
"1.2.3. New Appointments. Pay for a new appointment may be set in one of the following ways:
1.2.3.1. Minimum Step (Step 1). Pay is usually set at step 1 for a new appointment. Step 1 is the minimum rate for General Schedule (GS), Federal Wage System (FWS), special rate, or other types of pay systems (e.g., AFI 36-1101).
1.2.3.2. Higher than Step 1. In rare cases, an employee’s pay may be set beyond step 1 for a new appointment. The approval must be documented on the SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
•Chapter 5 authorizes the setting of pay beyond step 1 for a GS position based on superior qualifications."

Basically, they will only use the "Superior Qualifications Assessment" to hire people with exclusive skills that almost no one else has and to almost serve as a "hiring bonus" for people like that. In no uncertain terms, I was told that won't work in my situation and I would only be offered a Step 1.

I took it, despite the 23% pay cut. It gets me into the system as a GS-13 and I'll get the first three step increases in the first three years, no problem. I'll also be able to start looking for GS-14 jobs after a year. With a ton of retirement age people in the GS-14 and GS-15 positions right now (last estimate I saw was 61%), I'm hoping that will work in my favor since I'm only 35 right now.

Only two weeks left in the blue suit now until I transition to my civvies.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 12:44 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 12:44:12 -0400

I've never tried myself. Mainly because I felt that starting as a step one was appropriate when going into my current position. This is my fourth position in the GS system in my five years, but when opportunity knocks for the next time I will be certain to negotiate when I have enough to substantiate it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 10:45 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:45:03 -0400

No not really. With my years of experience and my certifications I am a gs 10 step 4

Response by 1SG Joseph Yorski, MHS made Dec 1 at 2015 9:54 AM

1SG Joseph Yorski, MHS — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 09:54:06 -0500

I personally got in as a step 1, but a friend of mine that came in at the same grade negotiated a step 9 when she was hired and got it. I only wish I knew you could DO that before I came in because from what I've learned, once you're in the system, you can't negotiate a higher step when applying for a job within the same grade.

Response by CPL Jesus Antonio Garriga made Dec 15 at 2017 8:34 AM

CPL Jesus Antonio Garriga — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 08:34:13 -0500

Good morning Maj. Matt Hylton, I am in the same situation HR asked me if I can have a letter of justification to get a step higher. I have a bachelor degree, and I did the job in the Army for six years. I also heard that you can have 6 up to 8 hours of leave earnings for my 10 years in service. Can anyone help me with that letter my email is [login to see] . Thank you for your assistance.

Response by William Smith made Jan 13 at 2018 2:43 AM

William Smith — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 02:43:37 -0500

no but didn't expect to either if you do a good job you may expect a quality step increase
maybe in certain special jobs involving rare skills it might be possible but I am no brain scientist or rocket surgeon :)

Response by G. R Mora made Feb 14 at 2019 12:01 AM

G. R Mora — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 00:01:42 -0500

Under the now terminated NSPS guidelines one would be able to negotiate their pay, however under GS rules it comes down to the hiring program that you where hired under, i.e., By Name Selectee, which means that for salary purposes they must comply with the applicable laws under this hiring authority. I suggest you go to the OPM website and review the differences between hiring authorities. Good luck.