I feel like you all are misplaying your hands. Find contractors that work for the govt.
They can bill the govt much higher rates because you have a PhD. They don’t have to pay you the extra. You could literally tell them that. Pay me at a junior rate and keep the difference until I prove I’m worth more.
You’d be straight revenue/profit for them. and it gets your foot in the door and you start getting actual experience.
Kaola family by Blippi.
It was demanded of me.