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A comment on The Google plasma globe affair of 2012. Parent comment

Re:The Google plasma globe affair of 2012 by godelski on Monday October 10, 2022 @05:10PM (#33156419)
I don't think the NSA pays as well though. You also have large restrictions. Not just stuff like never having smoked weed in your life (we are talking about CS people...) but that once you even have a security clearance (a pain to get in the first place) you have a lot of daily life headaches. You have to carefully watch what you say. International travel has to be reported (and can even be a big hassle). Etc. I'm not sure if the same is true for Google's Red/Blue teams, but I feel pretty confident in saying that they probably get paid more.
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Re:The Google plasma globe affair of 2012 by Arainach on Monday October 10, 2022 @05:43PM (#33156731)
Correct, government pay scale is a huge problem for talent acquisition. Your choices are either someone who is so ideologically devoted that they're willing to work for 5-25% of what they're worth or "work for us or you're going to prison for a long time".

Citations:

https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/119486...

Cyber Mitigations Analyst/System Vulnerability Analyst - Entry to Expert Level (Maryland)

Network Cyber Mitigations Engineers and System Vulnerability Analysts analyze vulnerabilities and develop mitigations to strengthen defenses. They produce formal and informal reports, briefings, and guidance to defend against attacks against network infrastructure devices or systems. NSA analysts' competencies run the gamut of data transport possibilities. They work with traditional wired networks, wireless transport, including Wi-Fi and cellular, collaborative platforms such as video teleconferencing, and the hardware and software that support it all.

Pay Plan: GG, Grade: 07/1 to 15/10

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries...

In a very high cost of living area, that means that entry level is $31K and the absolute top for expert level is $176,300.

Compare that to what FAMG are paying new college grads.

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Re:The Google plasma globe affair of 2012 by CamperBob2 on Monday October 10, 2022 @08:13PM (#33157909)
Correct, government pay scale is a huge problem for talent acquisition. Your choices are either someone who is so ideologically devoted that they're willing to work for 5-25% of what they're worth or "work for us or you're going to prison for a long time"

Or "I'm a covert foreign asset, so I DGAF what I get paid."

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Re:The Google plasma globe affair of 2012 by Scoundreller on Monday October 10, 2022 @09:45PM (#33158527)
Caps are getting raised, at least at DHS:

> The CTMS [Cybersecurity Talent Management System] salary range has an upper limit of the vice president's salary ($255,800 in 2021), plus an extended range for use in limited circumstances, which has an upper limit of $332,100 in 2021.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-us-government-just-launche...

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Re:The Google plasma globe affair of 2012 by Scoundreller on Monday October 10, 2022 @09:43PM (#33158508)
Had a friend with a restriction like this and then switched to a more public unrestricted job.

To be honest, I liked hanging out with them more when they couldn't talk about work :)

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Re:The Google plasma globe affair of 2012 by checkyoursudo on Wednesday October 12, 2022 @03:41AM (#33174020)
All of this is true, but as a government agent, you will be much less likely to go to jail for participating in adversarial activities, which is not nothing.
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