54k with a gov pension and all the perks aint that bad!

Fozzdick, thanks for the great post. (100% accurate )

The tough part for a young guy contemplating this as a career is that many apply and few are chosen for this work. The good thing for the rest of us is that when there is stiff competition for a position, we tend to get the better than average guy to fill a position. Until, of course, politics and quotas enter the picture!