How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make? • Hacker News Board

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#41

Post by chrshawkes » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:08 PM UTC

strictnein wrote: post #29

notananthem wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

damn thats terrible

A lot of those positions aren't in high cost areas, especially if you don't have kids. The area near Fort Meade, MD isn't too bad. San Antonio, TX is reasonable. Aurora, CO (just outside of Denver) isn't bad either, neither is Augusta, Georgia. A starting salary of $70-$80k for a recent college grad goes a long ways in those areas.

Fort Meade, Maryland? Are you kidding me, I'm in the DC area you're looking at close to a 1/2 million dollars for a reasonable house in a decent neighborhood in that area, not to mention Maryland's taxes are some of the highest in the country. On top of all of that, you have neighboring PG County, Maryland where corruption and crime are out of control, as well as terrible traffic around the entire DC metro area. Of all places you mentioned, Fort Meade does not belong in the same lot.

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#42

Post by scott00 » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:09 PM UTC

module0000 wrote: post #34

draw_down wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yikes, hope those bennies are pretty sweet.

I don't know if they are(if military benefits are any example)... beyond the look you get from a traffic cop after they run your info and reality dawns on them.

Can you explain this to the unenlightened? Is employment at a national security organization somehow indicated in the DMV database or whatever it is that cops look you up in?

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#43

Post by module0000 » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:14 PM UTC

scott00 wrote: post #42

module0000 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if they are(if military benefits are any example)... beyond the look you get from a traffic cop after they run your info and reality dawns on them.

Can you explain this to the unenlightened? Is employment at a national security organization somehow indicated in the DMV database or whatever it is that cops look you up in?

I'm assuming it is, even if it's not, you have a great answer to the traffic stop boilerplate question..."where are you going in such a hurry?"

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#44

Post by nonconvergent » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:19 PM UTC

[deleted] wrote: post #38

TheRealPomax wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For those of us who don't know what any of that means, can you add $ figures to those terms?

[deleted]

How far into your career was that?

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#45

Post by ganoushoreilly » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:19 PM UTC

tapatio wrote: post #39

GauntletWizard wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking it up (they're very public figures), the high end of that scale is 96k; the low end 52. (G11 base is $52,329.00, G13 base is $74,584.00) These numbers seem incredibly low. Like, "why doesn't Google just hire them all away and put them in a box somewhere" numbers. The economic damage done by repeated spying allegations and the vulnerabilities the NSA has stockpiled (and then leaked) seems like it's far outweig…

Base doesn't include locality pay: https://www.federalpay.org/gs/locality So for Los Angeles, for example, total annual salary would be $74,584.00 * 1.2965 = $96,698.00 for G13 base. G13 max would be $96,958.00 * 1.2965 = $125,706.00.

Also doesn’t include pay scale for EE or other bandings if applicable. Which can be another 10-20k.

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#46

Post by ganoushoreilly » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:20 PM UTC

admira1Ackb4r wrote: post #5

admira1Ackb4r wrote: post #4

North of 100k, south of 200k. Assuming some level of seniority or subject matter expertise. After that, there is a ceiling, so most will work for private firms or consult, making 2x, 3x, or much more.

source: Friends in the industry. One friend moved to UAE for a private-sector job, making tons, doing less actual security work.

The ole’ move to UAE we pay for everything gig. Money wouldn’t cover that for me, it’s a huge adjustment in lifestyle.

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#47

Post by ganoushoreilly » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:21 PM UTC

scott00 wrote: post #42

module0000 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if they are(if military benefits are any example)... beyond the look you get from a traffic cop after they run your info and reality dawns on them.

Can you explain this to the unenlightened? Is employment at a national security organization somehow indicated in the DMV database or whatever it is that cops look you up in?

It’s not. The only thing you may get is a official / displomatic passport for certain overseas work, otherwise it’s not going to matter anymore than flashing a teachers union card.

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#48

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:21 PM UTC

scott00 wrote: post #42

module0000 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if they are(if military benefits are any example)... beyond the look you get from a traffic cop after they run your info and reality dawns on them.

Can you explain this to the unenlightened? Is employment at a national security organization somehow indicated in the DMV database or whatever it is that cops look you up in?

[deleted]

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#49

Post by ganoushoreilly » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:25 PM UTC

randcraw wrote: post #14

ganoushoreilly wrote: post #11

Gs scale, +engineering pay band and locality pay(if applicable). The exceptions are military, they’re paid at comparable ranks. Most civilians start around GS9, then get fed up and go contractor for better pay.

Yes. I worked in the intel space and never knew a SES who wasn't a project manager or had several direct reports. Software staff aren't SES unless they run a group. I'd be surprised if high GS numbers (i.e. 12-14) applied to software staff unless they had 10+ years of experience or direct reports.

Some of the ranges I’m seeing here are “best case too” much like “google pays 200k+”. It all boils down to negotiation and open billets / funding. SES is extremely rare even in “TAO”.

Re: How much do hackers at the CIA/NSA/FBI make?

#50

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Jul 06, 2017, 5:25 PM UTC

randcraw wrote: post #14

ganoushoreilly wrote: post #11

Gs scale, +engineering pay band and locality pay(if applicable). The exceptions are military, they’re paid at comparable ranks. Most civilians start around GS9, then get fed up and go contractor for better pay.

Yes. I worked in the intel space and never knew a SES who wasn't a project manager or had several direct reports. Software staff aren't SES unless they run a group. I'd be surprised if high GS numbers (i.e. 12-14) applied to software staff unless they had 10+ years of experience or direct reports.

[deleted]