I've been offered a few government jobs, the last one with the NWS.
It's scary stupid how little some of those jobs pay, especially the ones that expect you to work in the beltway. Sure, $60k sounds great - if you're in Nowhere, Ohio.
A friend of mine who went to some facility in DC to do systems training on an electronics device said that no one there knew even basic maintenance on the stuff, and his fixing little issues was just magic. Said they offered him a job at a pay rate that was laughable where he lives now, and would be impossible in DC.
I heard that government workers on average make more than their private sector counterparts, but there probably is the issue of now you have to live in a more expensive area as you say.
I'd always heard that too, but that's not been my experience.
Some examples. The person that went to DC? I know where that device is going, and the exact location because I was offered a chance to interview there. It's way up north. 60k a year. The only good thing about that is you're not able to spend it. He was also offered 60k a year to live in the beltway to do the job at this facility. Both are government.
I was offered the chance to interview for some RADAR station out on an atoll in the middle of fucking nowhere. I think the Marshall Islands...60k a year. The NWS job paid the most, it was closer to 70k - not enough to live in the beltway. A guy I worked with recently left his company to go work for a government entity as an IT professional. Paid less, but had a little better benefits. That was his plus, being able to take care of his kids without breaking the bank.
The most I've ever been offered was 80k on a contract to go work the old Hawk Missiles, doing repairs (the missle console in the Six Million Dollar Man.) Reason: I know both vacuum electronics and digital electronics. Not many people out there like me that aren't 80. They offered 80k on contract, no bennies. I told them that was not a valid number.
Just for comparison, the jobs I mentioned first probably pay about 65k minimum in nowhere, Ohio.
Marshall Islands would be a cool experience but I don't think I'd like being so far a way from everyone I know long term.
That Hawk Missile thing sounds cool, and I have no idea about pay in this field, but 80k sounds low for the incredibly niche knowledge you're stating they required.