How many people do you know outside of government that make $100K-$150K who have exceedingly generous benefits, abundant paid time off, a lucrative retirement and absolute job security all courtesy of taxpayers, most of whom could never dream of having such a cushy job? If $150K only allows you to live paycheck to paycheck, why is that salary in the top three steps of a senior level GS-15? Are all the rest of the lower paid folks just scraping by? I doubt it.
100K doesn’t have much purchasing power (particularly in real estate) in the high-priced Washington region. Even 150K means you’re basically just living paycheck to paycheck.