GS Pay Scale for Nurse Practitioners

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So I was applying online for a NP job on a military installation, and from what I could tell new grads would only qualify for GS-11 which is about $58,000/year. Am I missing something? That's ridiculously low . . . why do people say it's so great working for the DOD if the pay is over $30K below the area average? I must be missing something, right?

I'll ask HR tomorrow.

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My Wife is a NP and we looked into jobs where I work. I am a GS-13 with 16 years service. After looking into it and seeing she would only be a gs-11 it was not worth it. Unless they pay an extra medical bonus like they do the doctors, which I have tried to find out and have not found anything the most you would start out is 69,000 if you lived in San Francisco area. There are only select areas that get higher then the normal locality pay of 14% which covers about 90% of the U.S. making your starting pay 58,400. The way the pay works is a base gs-11 is 51,298 then you multiply that by your locality rate. Example for 51,289 x standard locality pay of 14% = $7180 locality pay. Add the 7180+51289 to get $58,400. The medical benefits are great, government retirement is not at all what the media makes it out to be.

I work with a guy who's wife has been a NP for 14 years and they where going to start her out as a GS-12 even though it is authorized up to a 13.

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From HR: "In order to become a GS employee she would have to have one year of experience as a Nurse Practitioner. Then she would come in as a GS-13 step 1. On the current pay scale she would make $101,246 annually. As you know, she would also qualify for the Student Loan Repayment Program, 5% matching money in the Thrift Savings Program (TSP), annual and sick leave, health benefits, night and weekend differential pay, and caring for America's finest Soldiers!

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med Surg,.

I have a question! I've been an RN for 21 years & i want to go back to School to become a Nurse Practitioner! Would i have to start at zero on the pay scale, when i finish school & apply for a NP position? I'm working full-time,while going through school. Will have 24 years experience by then!! Thanks & have a Great Day, everyone!! :yes:

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Specializes in ER.
From HR: "In order to become a GS employee she would have to have one year of experience as a Nurse Practitioner. Then she would come in as a GS-13 step 1. On the current pay scale she would make $101,246 annually. As you know, she would also qualify for the Student Loan Repayment Program, 5% matching money in the Thrift Savings Program (TSP), annual and sick leave, health benefits, night and weekend differential pay, and caring for America's finest Soldiers!

That is very helpful! Although, I know new grads can be hired (did clinical at an army clinic that hired one), and I wonder where that number is coming from since the current pay scale has GS-13 step 1 as $73,115. Oh well. I guess there's a lot of variability.

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Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I have a question! I've been an RN for 21 years & i want to go back to School to become a Nurse Practitioner! Would i have to start at zero on the pay scale, when i finish school & apply for a NP position? I'm working full-time,while going through school. Will have 24 years experience by then!! Thanks & have a Great Day, everyone!! :yes:

When VA made me the offer it was based on my RN experience so my guess is you would be at the high end although if that is $101, 246 which might be good for FNP as a psych NP that is very low. Again in my area new grads who are savvy are staring out in the $150,000 range, can get excellent tuition reimbursement if they work in underserved areas.

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