Federal job or private job?

The promotions depend upon the position. If the position starts at GS-7, you will have to wait a year for the GS-9, no matter when you get your MS degree, because you will need one year time-in-grade. A year later, you can be promoted to GS-11, if the position goes to GS-11. And GS-7 pays $38,790 at the least, except for Guam, if you include the locality pay, higher in many areas of the country. One year later, it will go up to $47,448 at the least, and one year after that up to $57,408, at the least. So in two years, you will exceed the private company, which will start you at $50k and give you a 4% raise every year after if you're lucky. Of course, if the position you accept is at the full performance level and does not have a higher target grade, then you won't be promoted to GS-9 ever unless you apply and compete for another position that does have the higher grade. Once you are in federal government, you can't be promoted faster than a year unless you are selected from an announcement that was open to the public (vets and non-vets alike). Then you could hold your current position for just a few months and move onto another position with the same or different agency. So basically, you may start higher with a private firm, but I believe you will increase your salary faster with the federal government, and have more opportunities for promotion.