Apples to oranges comparison.

Fed employment is relatively secure, but folks getting into airlines now will move up fairly quickly (once you're above 80% seniority you're generally out of the furlough risk zone).

Fed employment will pay decently from day one, but of course will never get anywhere near a quarter million per year.

Also the government generally has philosophical issues with civil servants getting 18 days off/month so you'd better like what you do because you're going to be doing most days of the week.

As everyone mentioned you have to live where the job is (but the SW US includes San Diego and I have navy buddies at CBP who live there).

All in all, it's not a bad gig. But given anticipated rapid career progression in airlines in the mid-term, it kind of pales by comparison.

Also if you don't have a veteran's preference it's going to be harder to get hired by the fed...there's a gazillion ex-mil helo pilots out there who don't qualify for airlines.