you don't work for the government for the money. if you wanted money in government, you'd probable be better off running for an elected office, but not if you're a regular civil servant.
I get paid the same as most people, marginally higher than my contemporaries, my salary's easily google-able, look for Salary Grade 15. It'll probably stay that way in the next decade or so, there isn't much movement in government, and movement is the only way you'll get a significantly bigger salary.
I'm not complaining about my salary prospects. don't get me wrong. in fact salary is of secondary concern for me because i allow myself to work 12 hours and only 8 of which will be salaried, i allow myself to report to the office on weekends and do more work on my laptop on the ride going home. doesn't happen single day, but for a millennial, those are tough working conditions.
I'm not complaining about the amount of effort required of me by work either. in fact, i have the option to not work as hard and my financial compensation won't change. the government pays you a certain amount and it's up to you whether you'll exert a lot of effort, or very little, either way, you'll get paid.
I exert that much effort and subject myself to such working conditions because work seems to work for me. i'm not miserable at my job, i don't look forward at things outside the office, there may be an argument made for me "not having a life", but i'm doing okay at my work. i can go on for hours just doing work and not feeling hungry or tired.
the unique thing about my work is that it's always something new, always a learning curve to master. luckily enough, i pick up very quickly to adapt to new things, learn the new work, despite me having to seem to like the monotony of certain things in life, eg. the same food everyday, the same game to play over the weekend. I know the brain seeks out novelty, but the brain also seeks out routine. my work affords me the right amount of novelty that i don't have to find it outside the office. i am not exactly compelled to want to go to a new province, travel to a new country, or live out a vacation. i'm fine sitting at the same spot i've been sitting on for almost a decade, in front of my computer with a 42 inch tv as my monitor.
my work compensates for how boring my life is, but my boring life compensates for how tough my work can get.
and as i get older, it will only get tougher.
