[TankerKC]

In the DC area a GS 13 isn’t all that high a grade.

That's grade inflation for you. True, what gets you a GS-5 in Kansas will get you a GS-11 in DC.

A GS-13 (step 8 or so) will get you around $110K. Not bad for a HS diploma and limited skills (as in the specific example I mentioned)

[muawiyah]

No ~ not at all. What gets you a GS 13 in DC gets you a GS 13 in Kanasas City ~ the problem for the KCMO and KanKan people is that the same GS 13 job isn't located there ~ it's in DC.

Washington DC has the headquarters operations for the federal agencies and that's where the big dogs work.

Colonels go out for coffee at the Pentagon. They do other stuff in the field. Same grade. Same set of requirements. Same duties. Different manifestations.

Guy who can't get along with the Pentagon probably can't get along with the troops in his command either, so they all get rotated through the Pentagon.

[SoftballMominVA]

http://www.fedjobs.com/pay/pay.html

A GS-13 (step 8 or so) will get you around $110K. Not bad for a HS diploma and limited skills (as in the specific example I mentioned)

Uhm.... not so much. Check the link. A 13-8 makes about $88k. While not bad - it's not $110k.