Strange questions at V.A. Interviews

[edieb]

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Today I had an interview at a V.A. Center in a pretty rural area. I know there has been some talk about V.A. pay on here, so I thought I would pass on what the interviwer told me:

1 - If you are completing a post-doc, your pay is commensurate to a grade scale (GS) 11 which is $56K
2 - As soon as you become licensed, you move to a GS-13, which is approximately $75K.
3 - He mentioned something about a .04 raise your fist year, but I am not quite sure I understood the logistics of how you get the raise.

The questions were pretty thorough. The interview was only supposed to be an hour long but it actually went 2+ hours. The interviewer also asked me where else I had applied. I was kind of surprised by this......

 

[SingingCow]

What position are you applying for at the VA? Are you done with graduate school already?

 

[hkusp]

VA pay is linked to the GS scale. Go to google and just type GS scale government. You will see a chart that has GS grades on the left and "steps" on the top part. That is the pay scale.

If you go to GS11 you will see the top part as "Grade 1." That is the beginning level salary.

When you are licensed you are a GS13, Step 1. The next year your salary moves to GS13, Step 3, the next year, GS13, Step 5.

The .04 percent is your federal pay raise, which can vary from year to year. Every year, Congress/President decides on an across the board pay raise. Every year, a new GS chart comes out to reflect that pay increase.

You will also get something called a "locality pay" based upon your geographical region. Those living in NYC will be paid more than those living in rural Pennsylvania.

Depending on the VA site, as a permanent employee (GS13), you will be eligible for a student loan payment incentive, up to around $45K.

Now that sounds like great pay right now...however, this is a big ruckus in the VA about the disparity in pay of psychologists vs other doctoral level providers (MDs, Podiatrists, etc.). Psychiatrists start out at 93K per year and move up from there. They are under Title 5, Psychologists are under Title 38(hybrid). Go to AVAPL.org for more information.

Psychologists are mostly limited to GS13 pay, only a few get GS14/GS15 pay. All other doctoral level providers start as a GS15 with substantial bonuses. Many seasoned psychologists are going to the Department of Defense where the pay grades easily go to GS15.

Maybe too much information, but welcome to the archaic world of the gubment.

 

[hkusp]

The interviewer also asked me where else I had applied. I was kind of surprised by this......

No real worries, the VA is just generally a little more relaxed than most places. It was likely conversation fodder with someone who didn't know not to ask that. Happens a lot.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

The hybrid classification really snookers psychologists, as it limits our upward mobility (and also our accrued time off!). I really hope they can change that, as the pay is (sadly) good for a staff position, but poor considering what our medical counterparts make.

 

[hkusp]

The hybrid classification really snookers psychologists, as it limits our upward mobility (and also our accrued time off!). I really hope they can change that, as the pay is (sadly) good for a staff position, but poor considering what our medical counterparts make.

Yes, you will find in most VAs that the senior psychologists leave once they reach about 10 years in the profession. Most that are left are early careers. Most senior levels that continue to work (at least the ones I know) acknowledge the disparity in pay, but are at the VA for other reasons besides their careers.

It really is a shame because we lose the most experienced, which limits the early career's ability to work with such a complex population.

 

[KB2131]

Not to pry, but what could he possibly have asked you for 2 hours??

 

[edieb]

she was mainly trying to sell the position. the first hour was structured questions.

in regards to pay, $56k a year is a lot compared to most other jobs out there.

 

[erg923]

so, pretty much every staff psychologist postion at the VA starts at 56 if your right out of intenrship then goes up to 75k after first year, no matter what kind of specialty of clinic you are in? What is the ceiling for psycholosts at a VA....salary, not soft?

 

[Flutterbyu]

so, pretty much every staff psychologist postion at the VA starts at 56 if your right out of intenrship then goes up to 75k after first year, no matter what kind of specialty of clinic you are in? What is the ceiling for psycholosts at a VA....salary, not soft?

I'm confused about this. I know post-docs with the VA in my area are advertised at about $43. So if you were to take a staff position straight out of internship you would get paid 13k more?

 

[edieb]

Yes, taking a staff position right out of internship pays $13K more than a post-doc. Post-docs yield no more pay in the long run (in the VA system) and, in general, do not yield any more pay in the private sector.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Yes, taking a staff position right out of internship pays $13K more than a post-doc. Post-docs yield no more pay in the long run (in the VA system) and, in general, do not yield any more pay in the private sector.

That seems a bit backwards, but our field is quirky like that. I'm looking at neuro positions, so I'm hoping the extra time pays off (either in the VA or elsewhere). Staff positions seem way too therapy oriented for my taste, outside of primary care and neuro, though I really enjoy the population.

 

[bluegirl]

I'm curious about which psychologists in the VA are earning GS14 and GS15 level pay. Anyone know?

Do neuropsychs in the VA top out at GS13?

 

[edieb]

From looking at USAJOBS, it looks like psychologists top out at gs13. As for post-docs, from what I understand as a job hunter, they do not yield more money at the V.A. or at any private employers

 

[HVD2011]

"Now that sounds like great pay right now...however, this is a big ruckus in the VA about the disparity in pay of psychologists vs other doctoral level providers (MDs, Podiatrists, etc.). Psychiatrists start out at 93K per year and move up from there. They are under Title 5, Psychologists are under Title 38(hybrid)."


What can we do about this, rather what has been done in the past to try and correct this disparity? Do you know of any group that is actually moving to change this right now? If so I would like to join in the crusade.

This discrepency is absolutely ridiculous. If we don't act to change this discrimination, then who will do it for us? We should unite and get this changed!!!! I have read on other threads the arguments that we are doctoral level trained rather than medical doctors and they have more libability. But it's not about the comparing ourselves to medical doctors, it's about the YEARS of training that we put in this field that every state government says we must have. So we get it and we end up getting paid less than a psychiatric nurse. Whatever!!!! I deserve more pay for my clinical expertise in this field and so do all of you. Lets get proactive and lead the change we deserve once and for all!