Does being a spook pay well?

[Snarl]

Contract gigs pay more in a shorter time period, but they're not steady.

The pay is REALLY good on the contract side ... if you're not gonna be issued a CAC. BONUS: You're not expected to pay taxes on this color of compensation

Being an actual employee type pays less, but it's a steady paycheck over time.

There's a pension and medical at the end of the rainbow. The medical is worth so much more than the pension when momma's hair goes gray. BONUS: LEOSA license

Life is full of trade-offs.

One of which is maintaining eligibility for a Position of Trust and Responsibility.  That means a full-scope polygraph every year ... and the 'special one' pre-selection ... the one that starts with the question, "Did you have any intentions of lying to me as you were on your way over for your exam today?" ... "Well, why don't you tell me about that. Here's a pen and paper to write out your thoughts. Please be complete with those. When you're finished, I'll hook you back up to the machine. Meanwhile, I'm gonna go grab a cup of coffee. I'll be back in five minutes to see if you're still here. You know the way out."

@"MisterSpock": Don't know how old you are, but my guess is you're beyond the typical recruitment age ... and you probably wouldn't have started this thread if you were already in the clique. You could get an entry role with the Department of State that 'could' swing some doors. If you're really interested in the money-side of it, you'd have to be one corrupt motherfletcher ... and then comes that damned polygraph thing again.

Most polygraphers start out on the govie spook side. There's good money there, BTW. Nobody beats the machine ... unless it is being allowed ... and the first guy who has to pass that test every year is the examiner himself.