I am considering applying for a GS11 position in Japan. Is anyone able to offer a breakdown of the financial benefits GS workers at that rank receive (e.g. post allowance, housing allowance, COLA, etc.). It would be great if someone was able to provide approximate numbers for a married person with two children.

Thank you.

Your salary + 3 dependants + cola =
Your salary + $65,010 (housing/Rent, utilites) + $10k to $15k for COLA

Housing and cola dollar amounts will vary as the yen rate changes. but you get the idea!

Good luck. I have heard latey for some jobs getting 1000 applications and other's at my job get as little as 20. Put all you qualifacations on there whatever you can. Sometimes the competition is fierce and sometimes you wonder why the government is waste 100k keeping this idiot here. You never know.

The best place to find this information is the Department of State Office of Allowances web site.

First check by location to find the allowance rates by location at:

http://aoprals.state.gov/

With the rates from this location, pull up the Post Allowance tables from:

http://aoprals.state.gov/content.asp?content_id=231&menu_id=92

Go down to "229 Post Allowance Payment Tables" and download the PDF tables.

The amount you should get is based upon family size and rate. 

Example, for a family of four with a salary of $65k, the 50% Post Allowance would be $16,900.

The State Department web site has a lot of information on this subject and is worth exploring when considering an OCONUS position.

Hope this helps.

Thanks everyone.

One last question: is an 18 year old college student considered to be a dependent? In terms of the IRS, the answer is "yes". Just wonder if the military/GS system views things the same way.

This is a perfect example of why this website is so great. People going out of thier way to help others and to provide as much guidance/help as possible. Great job!

Thanks guys.. Great discussion.. Good information provided for the future people that move to Japan.

Yes, up until the age of 23, on thier 23rd birthday they are no longer considered a dependant.

I just went through this with my daughter who turns 23 in Dec.

Posted By NichiBeiOne on 12-09-2010 11:21 PM
Thanks everyone.

One last question: is an 18 year old college student considered to be a dependent? In terms of the IRS, the answer is "yes". Just wonder if the military/GS system views things the same way.

Yup, MarkR is correct.  I was my father's dependent while I went to school on Yokota Air Base up until my 23rd b-day.  Then, I had to go!  Just as long as she is enrolled as a full time college student, she's fine. 

One final "last question".

My daughter may go to college in Japan at Waseda in Tokyo. However, it is more likely that she will enroll at a university in the US and spend breaks with us (~5 months/year).

Would she still quality as being a dependent?

yes