Pay Rate

[Legal Beagle]

Do all new ALJs start at AL/3A or is there discretion for starting st higher grade or step depending upon non SSA or government experience?

[odarite]

As far as I know, pay outside of government is not taken into consideration. I have heard that if a candidate is earning more than AL/3A at the time of hire and are federal government employees they are placed at the step in the AL pay scale that will not result in a reduction in pay.

[Deleted]

How long does it generally take one to advance from AL-3/A to AL-3/B and so forth until AL-2 and AL-1? Are all advancements on the AL pay scale based upon time, or do certain positions carry AL-2 and AL-1 pay grades?

Thanks,

[justfoundthisboard]

It is all based on time, with 1 year between A, B, C, then 2 years to D, etc. The only way to advance faster is to become a HOCALJ - that will automatically advance you one step.

Reference where you start, Odarite is correct. If you are currently a Federal employee you will be brought in above your current base pay rate. They will not consider locality pay. If you are coming from outside the government, I think the general rule is you start at AL-3A, but I'm not 100% certain, since that did not apply to me.

I think all of these rules can be found in OPM regulations.

These are the rules that SSA follow. Other agencies may be different.

[judicature]

As someone who came from the outside, I can tell you that there is a rule that allows the agency to pay you more but it is discretionary, and generally only applies when your experience is uniquely valuable to the hiring agency.

This requires some honest self-examination. Are you so unique that the agency just can't do without you? The truth is that the answer is NO; think about it - there is a long line of people behind you who would like to have your place in the ALJ hiring line.

I was paid more as a state judge than the pay at AL/3A and had many years of experience. I took a shot at trying to get at least the next pay level which was slightly above my pay as a state court judge. I spent a couple of hours drafting my "compelling" case before I sent the email.

I was turned down before lunch time. ;D And, upon reflection, rightly so.

[emphyrio]

I started with SSA at the AL/3B level. I am pretty sure this was based on my previous pay as a DOJ attorney, rather than any special experience (since I had no special experience).