This state/country is messed up

[royalpiper]

yeah my step-son is a cpl detective and with OT only makes about $80,000 and his pension sucks. No 401 offered and they get 50% of their base salary upon retirement. I worked in law enforcement for awhile also and at this point would never recommend anyone getting into it. My step-son is looking to get out ASAP as he knows he will have a tough time retiring on that pension. They are also not eligible to collect social security upon retirement for some reason so he would be stuck at about $40,000/year for the rest of his life.
Most dpats around here start out at about $35,000-40,000 IF you can even get full time

It would be wise to identify the higher paying departments in that case and especially the ones who make you social security eligible. I advise young folks to take those tests and be willing to move if they want to hire you. Most departments don't care what degree you have but it makes you eligible for promotion with a degree, which bumps up the salary considerably. Most entry level Police Officers in New Jersey for example, are making near 100k after 3 years with 65 percent pension upon retirement, medical and social security when eligible. If you are wise enough to marry someone making equal money, then you should be living very comfortably. Worked for me.

 

[firecadet613]

It would be wise to identify the higher paying departments in that case and especially the ones who make you social security eligible. I advise young folks to take those tests and be willing to move if they want to hire you. Most departments don't care what degree you have but it makes you eligible for promotion with a degree, which bumps up the salary considerably. Most entry level Police Officers in New Jersey for example, are making near 100k after 3 years with 65 percent pension upon retirement, medical and social security when eligible. If you are wise enough to marry someone making equal money, then you should be living very comfortably. Worked for me.

But what's the cost of living in NJ? Most cops here make 60-70k....which is decent for the midwest, outside of large cities...

 

[boatman37]

Around here most depts only hire part timers but the ones that do hire full time only pay about $40,000-50,000/year. The largest dept near us would be Pittsburgh police and start at about $50,000-60,000 bu they are having hiring issues. They work the Pittsburgh public schools but the school boards do not allow them to carry firearms so officers are quitting if assigned to the schools. There was a shooting at one of the schools last year and the best the police could do was hide until other officers arrived. My brother-in-law just retired from the same dept my step-son works at and now works full-time at a neighboring township cause the retirement isn't good. He was there about 25 years but was a patrolman so guessing base pay was maybe $60,000. My step-son is a detective cpl. Detectives don't get any extra pay but he gets extra for being cpl

 

[royalpiper]

But what's the cost of living in NJ? Most cops here make 60-70k....which is decent for the midwest, outside of large cities...

If the local departments pay poorly and have meager benefits, then any young person seeking to go into law enforcement should not be afraid to relocate to better opportunities. Apply for those tests and fly or drive there to take those tests. Back in the 80's I flew to San Diego from NJ to take their test which was given all in one weekend. I passed and within 3 months I had a letter offering employment.
There are big cities that are desperate for recruits, I see billboards all over the country advertising such.
And they pay well.
I know many cops that married other cops in the NY/NJ area and they did very well when they retired. Two pensions, two social security checks, a healthy investment account, house paid for, kids thru college and a nice boat. I always give young people this advice... Marry at least your economic equal. It will give your marriage a better footing. As an aside, it is a very poor decision by anyone to take a job that disqualifies them from collecting social security. Why anyone would do that makes ZERO sense.

 

[firecadet613]

If the local departments pay poorly and have meager benefits, then any young person seeking to go into law enforcement should not be afraid to relocate to better opportunities. Apply for those tests and fly or drive there to take those tests. Back in the 80's I flew to San Diego from NJ to take their test which was given all in one weekend. I passed and within 3 months I had a letter offering employment.
There are big cities that are desperate for recruits, I see billboards all over the country advertising such.
And they pay well.
I know many cops that married other cops in the NY/NJ area and they did very well when they retired. Two pensions, two social security checks, a healthy investment account, house paid for, kids thru college and a nice boat. I always give young people this advice... Marry at least your economic equal. It will give your marriage a better footing. As an aside, it is a very poor decision by anyone to take a job that disqualifies them from collecting social security. Why anyone would do that makes ZERO sense.

You missed the point of my reply - what is the cost of living out in NY/NJ? My guess is astronomical when compared to Indiana...

Higher paying out there but a lesser quality of life...

It's a great gig just about anywhere....the PD / FD gig that is...

 

[royalpiper]

You missed the point of my reply - what is the cost of living out in NY/NJ? My guess is astronomical when compared to Indiana...

Higher paying out there but a lesser quality of life...

It's all relative, Yes, it's higher but cops make more in comparison. They get at least a half pay pension, in many cases more and can collect social security. Lesser quality of life is your opinion. We have great waterways for boat owners, far more than Indiana. Lakes, rivers and open water.

 

[boatman37]

Not always worth moving away. My brother-in-law was a police officer here for about 7 or 8 years then moved to Palm Beach and was with the Sheriffs dept there for about 7 or 8 years in the late 80's early 90's. My sister-in-law was regional manager for Sax 5th ave hair salons and they were doing quite well. They both quit their jobs to come back here with no jobs to go to. A few months later he ended up at the dept my step-son is at now with no social security and to them it was worth it. My father-in-law got very sick and that made them decide they needed to be closer to family. Aside from that...I would do whatever I need to to talk my kids out of being police officers in todays world. And my family has been full of police officers, including myself.

 

[Stee6043]

As an aside, it is a very poor decision by anyone to take a job that disqualifies them from collecting social security. Why anyone would do that makes ZERO sense.

That's a bit silly to say. Nobody is "disqualified" from social security. You either pay in or you don't. Those government employees that don't get social security later in life got to keep all that money the rest of us pay in with every pay check. If they were wise and invested that money they are likely doing better than the average person collecting SS.

Check yer paystub. SS is not an insignificant withholding for most.

 

[Golfman25]

That's a bit silly to say. Nobody is "disqualified" from social security. You either pay in or you don't. Those government employees that don't get social security later in life got to keep all that money the rest of us pay in with every pay check. If they were wise and invested that money they are likely doing better than the average person collecting SS.

Check yer paystub. SS is not an insignificant withholding for most.

If you do the math, if the employee and employer contributions are properly invested over a career, we’d have a whole lot of millionaires.

 

[brewster16]

On a slightly different note, I feel sad for the cops in NJ. They spent their whole careers battling drugs and street dealers. Now I see them directing traffic at these idiotic marijuana dispensaries where there is a line out the door every day and night! Can you imagine how tough their new reality must be? It's got to be infuriating. Unbelievable.

 

[Woody]

That's a bit silly to say. Nobody is "disqualified" from social security. You either pay in or you don't. Those government employees that don't get social security later in life got to keep all that money the rest of us pay in with every pay check. If they were wise and invested that money they are likely doing better than the average person collecting SS.

Check yer paystub. SS is not an insignificant withholding for most.

That's not correct, Fed employees for example that were under the civil service system paid in and at a higher rate than that of SS participants, they also paid the Medicare tax.

 

[Skybolt]

That's not correct, Fed employees for example that were under the civil service system paid in and at a higher rate than that of SS participants, they also paid the Medicare tax.

Some maybe, but my wife's father was an air traffic controller then moved up the tier(s) in the FAA high up into the GS pay check. He has never paid SS or Medicare. My wife is a CPA and handles his affairs now, so not all Fed employee's.

 

[Stee6043]

That's not correct, Fed employees for example that were under the civil service system paid in and at a higher rate than that of SS participants, they also paid the Medicare tax.

If you can find an example of someone that paid into SS/Medicare but did not receive those benefits when they became eligible, that would be very interesting.

 

[Woody]

If you can find an example of someone that paid into SS/Medicare but did not receive those benefits when they became eligible, that would be very interesting.

If a person paid into SS they'll be able to receive benefits, although in some cases they can be reduced. My wife is affected by WEP, her SS benefit is reduced by over 500 bucks a month.

 

[firecadet613]

It's all relative, Yes, it's higher but cops make more in comparison. They get at least a half pay pension, in many cases more and can collect social security. Lesser quality of life is your opinion. We have great waterways for boat owners, far more than Indiana. Lakes, rivers and open water.

It's hard to beat middle America for QOL and cost of living IMO, but it's just that. You must not have heard of Lake Michigan, crystal clear and shark free .

On a slightly different note, I feel sad for the cops in NJ. They spent their whole careers battling drugs and street dealers. Now I see them directing traffic at these idiotic marijuana dispensaries where there is a line out the door every day and night! Can you imagine how tough their new reality must be? It's got to be infuriating. Unbelievable.

I feel bad for them everywhere. Underpaid and under appreciated by many. I took a few PD tests in my younger years and past on the job offers... looking back I can say that was a wise decision.

 

[Woody]

Some maybe, but my wife's father was an air traffic controller then moved up the tier(s) in the FAA high up into the GS pay check. He has never paid SS or Medicare. My wife is a CPA and handles his affairs now, so not all Fed employee's.

If he worked after '83 I think he'd have paid some Medicare tax.

 

[Skybolt]

If he worked after '83 I think he'd have paid some Medicare tax.

Yes, but only recently when the government converted the BC-BS over to Medicare coverage. And that is only the past few years, although his deductions still don't state Medicare like most others do. Strange how is works. His pension is like 80% of what he was making and he was very high up that ladder.

 

[Woody]

Yes, but only recently when the government converted the BC-BS over to Medicare coverage. And that is only the past few years, although his deductions still don't state Medicare like most others do. Strange how is works. His pension is like 80% of what he was making and he was very high up that ladder.

FICA taxes aren't withheld from pensions.

'Government converted the BC-BS over to Medicare coverage', I'm not sure what you mean by that. They're two different things, if he's fully retired all that should have happened is his BC-BS become secondary to Medicare.

 

[Skybolt]

FICA taxes aren't withheld from pensions.

'Government converted the BC-BS over to Medicare coverage', I'm not sure what you mean by that. They're two different things, if he's fully retired all that should have happened is his BC-BS become secondary to Medicare.

Didn't say FICA. Said Medicare tax, and yes they are or can be depending on what you choose to elect for medical. Has never paid into SS (FICA) either and is not eligible for SS because of his pension. Medicare was not an option for the longest time because of his type of pension. Only recently does he have Medicare (because of medical coverage in the gov.) but still isn't his primary provider and does not get that tax taken out either. Crazy.

Some of the older gov. pensions are very different from what today is and cannot be converted to what todays standards are. He has the best coverage I have ever seen and from what I understand, the same as some government officials (politicians) have. This may not be the norm but is what it is. Not going to debate what I see in writing and in fact. All I can say is he is very fortunate to have this.

 

[Woody]

Didn't say FICA. Said Medicare tax, and yes they are or can be depending on what you choose to elect for medical. Has never paid into SS (FICA) either and is not eligible for SS because of his pension. Medicare was not an option for the longest time because of his type of pension. Only recently does he have Medicare (because of medical coverage in the gov.) but still isn't his primary provider and does not get that tax taken out either. Crazy.

Some of the older gov. pensions are very different from what today is and cannot be converted to what todays standards are. He has the best coverage I have ever seen and from what I understand, the same as some government officials (politicians) have. This may not be the norm but is what it is. Not going to debate what I see in writing and in fact. All I can say is he is very fortunate to have this.

Hey, I'm not trying to debate either. Just trying to decipher whatever it is you're trying to say. For what it's worth...the Medicare tax is a FICA tax, FICA taxes are not withheld from pensions. He may have an amount deducted from his pension that goes toward the medicare premium, but it is not a tax.

On Medicare...everyone qualifies for Medicare at age 65.