Justice Management Division
Serving Justice - Securing Results

Pay System
Benefits and Responsibilities
Leave
Moving and Housing
On the Job
Additional Information

Pay System

How much money will I make?
If you graduated with an undergraduate degree, you will most likely start as a GS-7.  If you have a Master's degree you will be eligible to start as a GS-9.  The salary for a GS-7 for 2005 in the Washington DC Metro Area ranges from $35,452 to $46,088.  The salary for a GS-9 for 2005 in the Washington DC Metro Area ranges from $43,365 to $56,371.

How does the pay system work?
You will most likely be employed on the GS scale, which is divided into Grades and Steps, with each Grade having 10 steps.  After you have been employed for a year, you will have a performance review and (assuming your performance has been acceptable) be promoted to the next Grade.  You will probably be in a 7-9-11 or possibly a 7-9-11-12 Series, which basically means that each year you will be moved to the next Grade in that Series.  Once you have reached the end of that Series, you will stay at that Grade and be promoted to higher Steps within that Grade.  Alternatively, you could move to a position with a 12-13-14 Series, or some similar arrangement, to continue your progress up the GS Grades.

Do I have to start at Step 1?
Not necessarily.  While it is unlikely that you will start at a level other than GS-7 (undergraduate degree) or GS-9 (Master's degree), it is possible that you will be brought in at something higher than Step 1.  This depends on your qualifications and different parts of the Department approach it differently.

When is payday?
Officially, payday is the second Thursday of each pay period.  There are 26 pay periods in a year, starting the first or second week of January and ending the last week of the following December or the first week of the following January.  To complicate things, you are now required to use direct deposit to a bank account, which usually occurs on the Monday before payday (the second Monday of each pay period).  So even though payday is officially Thursday, the funds become available on Monday.  As a point of clarification, the payday is the pay for the previous pay period; therefore, you will receive your first pay two weeks after starting.

Will I get a signing bonus?
The Department of Justice does not have a set signing bonus program, but in some cases this can be negotiated.

What are the benefits that come with my position?
There are several benefits that you will be able to take advantage of, two of which are FEGLI (Federal Group Life Insurance) and TSP (Thrift Savings Plan, for retirement).  Ask your point of contact for more specific information about these and other benefits.

What will my responsibilities be?
Your responsibilities can vary widely depending on where you work in the Department.  Some people focus mainly on technical things like vulnerability scans and firewall configurations, while others work with policy and guidance.  Your point of contact with the department should be able to provide more details for you.

How much leave will I get?
Leave is accrued over the year based on your GS Grade.  For the first 3 years employees accrue 4 hours per pay period of annual leave and 4 hours per pay period of sick leave.  The sick leave always remains at 4 hours per pay period.  After 3 years an employee accrues 6 hours per pay period of annual leave, and after 15 years 8 hours per pay period.  A pay period consists of two weeks; there are 26 pay periods in a year.

How does the leave system work?
In order to take leave, fill out a leave form two weeks (or more) in advance of when you want to take the leave and submit it to your supervisor.  Accrued sick leave carries over from year to year.  There is no maximum carryover.  Two hundred and forty hours of annual leave may be carried over from one year to the next.  Any annual leave in excess of 240 hours will be lost.

When should I start looking for housing?
Right away you should start trying to get an idea of what you would like, how much time you are willing to spend commuting, and how much you are willing to spend.  Each person is different; one might be willing to commute two hours a day in order to have a less expensive or larger apartment, while someone else might prefer to spend a few hundred dollars more per month and/or have a smaller space to be able to be closer to work.

Where should I look for housing?
As mentioned above, it depends a lot on what you are looking for.  Rent in DC can vary widely from place to place, but it is probably pretty safe to say that you can expect to pay between $1000 and $2000 per month on rent and utilities total if you plan to live on your own.  Another option would be to share an apartment with one or more people, which can lower your monthly expenses.  There are many good resources on the Web that you can use to help you with the relocation process.

One thing to keep in mind is that many of the PMFs who have moved here have noticed that it seems to be much easier to access grocery stores, etc. in Maryland and Virginia than it is in the District of Columbia.  Keep in mind things that are important to you when you are searching for your new home, such as metro-accessibility, grocery stores, gyms, parking, local restaurants, etc. 

Will the Department cover my expenses while I am looking for a place to live?  If so, how much of my expenses will they cover?
The Department most likely will not cover your expenses while looking for a place to live.

When should I move?
You should wait until you have a definite start date before you move, and you should make sure that your point of contact from the Department understands your current situation (e.g. where you are currently living, what arrangements you will need to make before you move, whether you have found a place to which you can move).

What expenses will the Department cover for my move?
The Department most likely will not cover your moving expenses.

Will the Department help cover my commuting costs?
Yes.  If you use public transportation or certain other forms of environmentally friendly travel, the government will contribute up to $105 (not to exceed 80% of your total commuting cost) towards your commuting expenses based on your needs.

How soon am I expected to start working after I am approved?
This varies between areas and positions, but you should be allowed a reasonable time to relocate before your expected start date.  This should be negotiated between you and your point of contact, based on considerations such as how soon you can move.

How many hours do I have to work per day?
DOJ has a few different options for people whose positions lend themselves to (or require) flexibility.  The Alternate Work Schedule (AWS) allows employees to work eight nine-hour days and one eight hour day each pay period, leaving the tenth day free.  (Example:  Work 9 hours/day Monday-Thursday, work 8 hours on Friday, and get the second Friday off).  Some positions are also eligible for eight ten-hour days in a pay period.  There is also the Flex schedule, which allows employees to flex which times that they come in and leave work.  This is an agreement made between the employee and the supervisor.

Do I have to complete a background investigation to work at the Department of Justice?
Employees must be able to successfully pass a security clearance by the U.S. Government.  The most common disqualifying subject area for candidates is prior use of illegal substances.  The U.S. Department of Justice discourages applicants with a history of prior drug use.  In evaluating this area, relevant criteria include recency, frequency, duration, and the specific substance used. The Department has a strict zero-tolerance policy against illegal drug use by current employees.

The following are various links to different Department resources:

DOJ Justice Management Division (JMD) HR Staff Home Page

Benefits for New Federal Employees

The following are additional resources that you can use to learn more about the Washington, DC metropolitan area and general tips about the area:

Metro Transit Authority (MetroBus and MetroRail)