$40K/year for a federal optometrist job!?

[PublicHealth]

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I noticed the following job listings for ODs while browsing the USAJOBS.GOV website. Granted, these jobs are in WY, MT, ND, NE, and SD, but why are the salaries so low?

http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/jo...t=rv&tm=&FedEmp=N&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y

Feb 1, 2005 Optometrist
Incumbent plans and develops the various elements of the Service Unit’s Optometry program, i.e., prepares budget estimates, maintains proper records.  Assesses patients for vision deficiencies, ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: BA-DEU-05-05
Who May Apply: US Citizens
Pay Plan: GS-0662-9/11
Appointment Term: Multiple Appointment Types
Job Status: Multiple Schedule Options
Closing Date: 12/31/2005
Salary: From 41,772.00 to 65,704.00 USD per year
Health & Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) US-MT-Throughout Montana


Feb 1, 2005 Optometrist
Incumbent plans and develops the various elements of the Service Unit’s Optometry program, i.e., prepares budget estimates, maintains proper records.  Assesses patients for vision deficiencies, ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: BA-DEU-05-05
Who May Apply: US Citizens
Pay Plan: GS-0662-9/11
Appointment Term: Multiple Appointment Types
Job Status: Multiple Schedule Options
Closing Date: 12/31/2005
Salary: From 41,772.00 to 65,704.00 USD per year


Jun 1, 2004 Optometrist
LOCATION: * Positions will be filled at the following locations as vacancies occur. There may not be immediate vacancies at all locations. Interested applicants should check with the local Administr ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: AO-DEU-04-33-VAR-A
Who May Apply: Public
Pay Plan: GS-0662-09/11
Appointment Term: Term
Closing Date: Open Continuous
Salary: From 40,454.00 to 63,629.00 USD per year
Health & Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) US-SD-Throughout South Dakota


Jun 1, 2004 Optometrist
LOCATION: * Positions will be filled at the following locations as vacancies occur. There may not be immediate vacancies at all locations. Interested applicants should check with the local Administr ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: AO-DEU-04-33-VAR-A
Who May Apply: Public
Pay Plan: GS-0662-09/11
Appointment Term: Term
Closing Date: Open Continuous
Salary: From 40,454.00 to 63,629.00 USD per year


Jun 1, 2004 Optometrist
LOCATION: * Positions will be filled at the following locations as vacancies occur. There may not be immediate vacancies at all locations. Interested applicants should check with the local Administr ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: AO-DEU-04-33-VAR-A
Who May Apply: Public
Pay Plan: GS-0662-09/11
Appointment Term: Term
Closing Date: Open Continuous
Salary: From 40,454.00 to 63,629.00 USD per year
Health & Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) US-NE-Throughout Nebraska

 

[cpw]

it might not be full time.. and.. it IS the government. the government is not known for well-paying jobs

 

[rpames]

it might not be full time.. and.. it IS the government. the government is not known for well-paying jobs

...but the benefits would be good.

 

[Richard_Hom]

The Federal Government has not revised the job specifications of optometrists to reflect what many in the civilian world are doing in both renumeration and sometimes scope of practice.

In this regard, many retired military optometrists see these jobs as ideal for them. First they can use they can retire from the Federal Government a second time and can then (in some cases) collect retirement from both sources (total combined retirement pay cannot exceed what could be earned in full time work at either employer). There are many retired or ex-military who will take these jobs and thus there isn't any dearth of applicants.

In the case of the Indian Health Service, I'm not so sure about their situation.

Richard

 

[alferec]

The Federal Government has not revised the job specifications of optometrists to reflect what many in the civilian world are doing in both renumeration and sometimes scope of practice.

In this regard, many retired military optometrists see these jobs as ideal for them. First they can use they can retire from the Federal Government a second time and can then (in some cases) collect retirement from both sources (total combined retirement pay cannot exceed what could be earned in full time work at either employer). There are many retired or ex-military who will take these jobs and thus there isn't any dearth of applicants.

In the case of the Indian Health Service, I'm not so sure about their situation.

Richard

Richard-
I'm not sure if this is what you're saying, but let's say if you're a military OD and served active duty for let's say 8 years, the other 12 years can add for credit for government retiree benefits (i.e. free medical and 1/2 base pay etc) when you retire after 20 years of government service total???

 

[Richard_Hom]

Richard-
I'm not sure if this is what you're saying, but let's say if you're a military OD and served active duty for let's say 8 years, the other 12 years can add for credit for government retiree benefits (i.e. free medical and 1/2 base pay etc) when you retire after 20 years of government service total???

The 8 years of military service + years of federal civil service = civilian federal benefits.

The only way you can get military retiree benefits is as follows:

8 years of active military service + 12 years or more of uninterrupted reserve or National Guard duty = military retirement benefits (although prorated in accordance to the retired reserve military benefits)

In some special circumstances, civilian experience can be granted for credit towards rank but not usually years in service or years in grade. This anomaly occurs if an optometrist gets appointed to the rank of O4 (Major) directly from civilian life. The candidate may have sufficient years of civilian experience that can be credited for the rank, but none of the experience counts towards years of service for pay. So the new Major starts out with O4 pay (0-2 years of experience). Most majors will have 9-14 years of military service for pay purposes. In addition, if the major doesn't have any years in grade (as a Major), that major will have to accummulate years for total military service. There may be some situations where a promotable major may be required to have a minimum of 12 years of total military service. Well with no service years, then the major will have to wait to accumulate 12 years of service before being considered for promotion within the primary zone.

All a bit of wizadry, I think.

Richard

 

[alferec]

The 8 years of military service + years of federal civil service = civilian federal benefits.

The only way you can get military retiree benefits is as follows:

8 years of active military service + 12 years or more of uninterrupted reserve or National Guard duty = military retirement benefits (although prorated in accordance to the retired reserve military benefits)

In some special circumstances, civilian experience can be granted for credit towards rank but not usually years in service or years in grade. This anomaly occurs if an optometrist gets appointed to the rank of O4 (Major) directly from civilian life. The candidate may have sufficient years of civilian experience that can be credited for the rank, but none of the experience counts towards years of service for pay. So the new Major starts out with O4 pay (0-2 years of experience). Most majors will have 9-14 years of military service for pay purposes. In addition, if the major doesn't have any years in grade (as a Major), that major will have to accummulate years for total military service. There may be some situations where a promotable major may be required to have a minimum of 12 years of total military service. Well with no service years, then the major will have to wait to accumulate 12 years of service before being considered for promotion within the primary zone.

All a bit of wizadry, I think.

Richard

Thanks for the info Richard! If anything you and Polkadot are probably going to be my main sources for military related stuff since you two are the only ones here that I know of that are prior service.

But anyway just curious, what entails government civilian retiree benefits? And how many years of service under the government is required to obtain these benefits? I'd really appreciate your info!!!

 

[polkadot]

Here's a link to the Office of Personnel Management that handles all fed employees: http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq11.asp

This is embedded in their retirement faq's, so if you want more detailed info, you'll have to scan the website. The calculator is a bit too much for me to explain here, but I thought it was pretty well-explained on the page (but I also speak the language 😛 ). Let me know if it's not clear!

-p.dot

 

[ucbsowarrior]

...but the benefits would be good.

benefits only account for 18-21% of a jobs monetary value. the gain is low unless you have a family w/ 100 kids.

ucbsowarrior

 

[ucbsowarrior]

I noticed the following job listings for ODs while browsing the USAJOBS.GOV website. Granted, these jobs are in WY, MT, ND, NE, and SD, but why are the salaries so low?

http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/jo...t=rv&tm=&FedEmp=N&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y

Feb 1, 2005 Optometrist
Incumbent plans and develops the various elements of the Service Unit’s Optometry program, i.e., prepares budget estimates, maintains proper records.  Assesses patients for vision deficiencies, ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: BA-DEU-05-05
Who May Apply: US Citizens
Pay Plan: GS-0662-9/11
Appointment Term: Multiple Appointment Types
Job Status: Multiple Schedule Options
Closing Date: 12/31/2005
Salary: From 41,772.00 to 65,704.00 USD per year
Health & Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) US-MT-Throughout Montana


Feb 1, 2005 Optometrist
Incumbent plans and develops the various elements of the Service Unit’s Optometry program, i.e., prepares budget estimates, maintains proper records.  Assesses patients for vision deficiencies, ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: BA-DEU-05-05
Who May Apply: US Citizens
Pay Plan: GS-0662-9/11
Appointment Term: Multiple Appointment Types
Job Status: Multiple Schedule Options
Closing Date: 12/31/2005
Salary: From 41,772.00 to 65,704.00 USD per year


Jun 1, 2004 Optometrist
LOCATION: * Positions will be filled at the following locations as vacancies occur. There may not be immediate vacancies at all locations. Interested applicants should check with the local Administr ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: AO-DEU-04-33-VAR-A
Who May Apply: Public
Pay Plan: GS-0662-09/11
Appointment Term: Term
Closing Date: Open Continuous
Salary: From 40,454.00 to 63,629.00 USD per year
Health & Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) US-SD-Throughout South Dakota


Jun 1, 2004 Optometrist
LOCATION: * Positions will be filled at the following locations as vacancies occur. There may not be immediate vacancies at all locations. Interested applicants should check with the local Administr ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: AO-DEU-04-33-VAR-A
Who May Apply: Public
Pay Plan: GS-0662-09/11
Appointment Term: Term
Closing Date: Open Continuous
Salary: From 40,454.00 to 63,629.00 USD per year


Jun 1, 2004 Optometrist
LOCATION: * Positions will be filled at the following locations as vacancies occur. There may not be immediate vacancies at all locations. Interested applicants should check with the local Administr ...[more]
Vacancy Ann.#: AO-DEU-04-33-VAR-A
Who May Apply: Public
Pay Plan: GS-0662-09/11
Appointment Term: Term
Closing Date: Open Continuous
Salary: From 40,454.00 to 63,629.00 USD per year
Health & Human Services, Indian Health Service (IHS) US-NE-Throughout Nebraska

40-60k is too little

 

[alferec]

Here's a link to the Office of Personnel Management that handles all fed employees: http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq11.asp

This is embedded in their retirement faq's, so if you want more detailed info, you'll have to scan the website. The calculator is a bit too much for me to explain here, but I thought it was pretty well-explained on the page (but I also speak the language 😛 ). Let me know if it's not clear!

-p.dot

Hey polkadot,
All that stuff seems way over my head! I know that there must be a lot of benefits, but what are the main perks that you get as a government retiree?

 

[polkadot]

Hey polkadot,
All that stuff seems way over my head! I know that there must be a lot of benefits, but what are the main perks that you get as a government retiree?

pension for life.