Basically, GCHQ have to operate on the same pay-schemes as other civil service departments. Which means roughly £20k starting salary. Now if they want to hire the best of the best, straight out of university, they're going to have to compete with the City firms who will offer £90k+ to fresh grads. Not to mention the fact that GCHQ is in Cheltenham, not exactly an exciting cultural hotspot for young 20-somethings.
Makes me slightly less worried about government spying when I realise the trouble they have to go through to keep anybody half-decent.
No idea whether it's the same in the US. Do anyone know if they have strict guidelines on what they can pay civil servants?
You are forgetting that most governments then take in contractors in big IT projects, which in many cases have outrageous budgets. Now you've got the A+ people employed.
Just look at the prime real world example: Edward Snowden was a contractor, and not employed by the government.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-1414498...
Basically, GCHQ have to operate on the same pay-schemes as other civil service departments. Which means roughly £20k starting salary. Now if they want to hire the best of the best, straight out of university, they're going to have to compete with the City firms who will offer £90k+ to fresh grads. Not to mention the fact that GCHQ is in Cheltenham, not exactly an exciting cultural hotspot for young 20-somethings.
Makes me slightly less worried about government spying when I realise the trouble they have to go through to keep anybody half-decent.
No idea whether it's the same in the US. Do anyone know if they have strict guidelines on what they can pay civil servants?