§ 5332. The General Schedule

§ 5332. The General Schedule

(a)

(1) The General Schedule, the symbol for which is “GS”, is the basic pay schedule for positions to which this subchapter applies. Each employee to whom this subchapter applies is entitled to basic pay in accordance with the General Schedule.

(2) The General Schedule is a schedule of annual rates of basic pay, consisting of 15 grades, designated “GS–1” through “GS–15”, consecutively, with 10 rates of pay for each such grade. The rates of pay of the General Schedule are adjusted in accordance with section 5303.

(b) When payment is made on the basis of an hourly, daily, weekly, or biweekly rate, the rate is computed from the appropriate annual rate of basic pay named by subsection (a) of this section in accordance with the rules prescribed by section 5504(b) of this title.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 467; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(18), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 199; Pub. L. 90–206, title II, § 202(a), Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 624; Pub. L. 95–454, title V, § 503(e), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1184; Pub. L. 98–615, title II, § 204(a)(1), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3216; Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(29), Oct. 2, 1992, 106 Stat. 1350; Pub. L. 103–89, § 3(b)(1)(F), Sept. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 982.)

In subsection (a), the words “the symbol for which is ‘GS’ ” are added on authority of former section 1111 which is carried into section 5104. So much as related to the Crafts, Protective, and Custodial Schedule is omitted as repealed effective not later than Sept. 11, 1955, by the Act of Sept. 1, 1954, §§ 109(b), 110(b), 68 Stat. 1108.

In subsection (b), reference to payment made on the basis of a “monthly” rate is omitted since section 5504(b), former section 944(c), no longer provides for converting a basic annual rate to a basic monthly rate.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1993—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–89 struck out “, except an employee covered by the performance management and recognition system established under chapter 54,” after “whom this subchapter applies”.

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–378 amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows: “The General Schedule, the symbol for which is ‘GS’, is the basic pay schedule for positions to which this subchapter applies. Each employee to whom this subchapter applies, except an employee covered by the performance management and recognition system established under chapter 54 of this title, is entitled to basic pay in accordance with the General Schedule.”

1984—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98–615 substituted “the performance management and recognition system established under chapter 54” for “the merit pay system established under section 5402”.

1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–454 inserted in second sentence reference to an employee covered by the merit pay system established under section 5402 of this title.

1967—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 90–206 increased the compensation in each step of each grade.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–89 effective Nov. 1, 1993, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 103–89, set out as a note under section 3372 of this title.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–378 effective May 4, 1991, see section 9(b)(4) of Pub. L. 102–378, set out as a note under section 6303 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–615, title II, § 205, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3217, provided that amendment by Pub. L. 98–615 was effective Oct. 1, 1984, and applicable with respect to pay periods commencing on or after that date, with certain exceptions and qualifications.

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–454, title V, § 504(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1184, provided that amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 was effective on first day of first applicable pay period which began on or after Oct. 1, 1981, except it could take effect with respect to any category or categories of positions before such day to extent prescribed by Director of Office of Personnel Management.

Effective Date of 1967 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–206, title II, § 220(a)(2), Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 639, provided, except as otherwise expressly provided, that: “Sections 202 [amending this section and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section], 203 [amending section 3301 of Title 39, The Postal Service], 204 [enacting section 3512A of Title 39, amending sections 3512, and 3513–3531 of Title 39, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 3512A of Title 39], 205 [amending sections 3542–3544 of Title 39, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 3542, 3544, 3552, and 3560 of Title 39], 206 [amending sections 3560, 3573, and 3575 of Title 39, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 3542 of Title 39], 208 [amending former section 4107 of Title 38, Veterans’ Benefits], 209 [amending sections 867 and 870 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 867 of Title 22], 210 [enacting provisions set out as a note under section 590h of Title 16, Conservation], 211 [enacting provisions set out as a note under this section and section 548 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure], 213 (except subsections (d) and (e)) [enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 603, 604, and 753 of Title 28], 214 (except subsections (j), (k), (l), (n), and (o)) [enacting sections 60e–14, 61–2, 293c, and 4302 of Title 2, The Congress, amending section 1847 of Title 2, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 8339 of this title], and 216 [enacting provisions set out as a note under section 60e–14 of Title 2] shall become effective as of the beginning of the first pay period which began on or after October 1, 1967.”

Short Title

Pub. L. 90–206, § 1, Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 613, provided: “That this Act [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Postal Revenue and Federal Salary Act of 1967’.”

Pub. L. 90–206, title II, § 201, Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 624, provided that: “This title [see Tables for classification] may be cited as the ‘Federal Salary Act of 1967’.”

Adjustment of Pay Rates Effective October 1, 1972

Pub. L. 93–549, Dec. 26, 1974, 88 Stat. 1743, provided that no officer or employee of the United States shall have his or her pay reduced by reason of Ex. Ord. No. 11777, Apr. 12, 1974.

1970 Increase in Pay Rates

Pub. L. 91–231, Apr. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 195, known as the Federal Employees Salary Act of 1970, and effective on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after Dec. 27, 1969, provided for an increase in the rates of basic pay, basic compensation, and salaries contained in the General Schedule, the Postal Field Service Schedule and Rural Carrier Schedule, the schedule relating to certain positions within the Department of Medicine and Surgery of the Veterans’ Administration, and the Foreign Service schedules, and also for employees of Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation County Committees, for certain employees of the Legislative and Judicial Branches, for United States Attorneys, and for other employees of the United States Government and the government of the District of Columbia whose rates of pay were fixed by administrative action and not otherwise increased.

Initial Adjustment of 1967 Pay Increases

Pub. L. 90–206, title II, §§ 202(b), 220(a)(2), Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 625, 639, effective as of the beginning of the first pay period which began on or after Oct. 1, 1967, made various initial adjustments to the rates of basic pay of officers and employees referred to in the General Schedule set forth in the amendment to this section made by section 202(a) of Pub. L. 90–206.

1967 Salary Increase for Persons Whose Compensation Rates are Fixed by Administrative Action

Pub. L. 90–206, title II, §§ 211(b)–(d), 220(a)(2), Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 633, 639, effective as of the beginning of the first pay period which began on or after Oct. 1, 1967, authorized the increase of the rates of pay of certain officers and employees of the Federal Government and of the municipal government of the District of Columbia by amounts not to exceed the increases provided by title II of Pub. L. 90–206 for corresponding rates of pay in the appropriate schedule or scale of pay.

Retroactive Compensation Under 1967 Pay Increases

Pub. L. 90–206, title II, § 218, Dec. 16, 1967, 81 Stat. 638, provided for retroactive pay under title II of Pub. L. 90–206 only in the case of an individual in the service of the United States, including service in the Armed Forces, or the municipal government of the District of Columbia on Dec. 16, 1967, subject to certain restrictions.

Executive Documents

Ex. Ord. No. 14132. Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay

Ex. Ord. No. 14132, Dec. 23, 2024, 89 F.R. 106963, provided:

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Statutory Pay Systems. The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5302(1)), as adjusted under 5 U.S.C. 5303, are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:

(a) The General Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5332(a)) at Schedule 1;

(b) The Foreign Service Schedule (22 U.S.C. 3963) at Schedule 2; and

(c) The schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (38 U.S.C. 7306, 7401, 7404; section 301(a) of Public Law 102–40) at Schedule 3.

Sec. 2. Senior Executive Service. The ranges of rates of basic pay for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service, as established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382, are set forth on Schedule 4 attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Sec. 3. Certain Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries. The rates of basic pay or salaries for the following offices and positions are set forth on the schedules attached hereto and made a part hereof:

(a) The Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5311–5318) at Schedule 5;

(b) The Vice President (3 U.S.C. 104) and the Congress (2 U.S.C. 4501) at Schedule 6; and

(c) Justices and judges (28 U.S.C. 5, 44(d), 135, 252, and 461(a)) at Schedule 7.

Sec. 4. Uniformed Services. The rates of monthly basic pay (37 U.S.C. 203(a)) for members of the uniformed services, as adjusted under 37 U.S.C. 1009, and the rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay (37 U.S.C. 203(c)) are set forth on Schedule 8 attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Sec. 5. Locality-Based Comparability Payments.

(a) Pursuant to section 5304 of title 5, United States Code, and my authority to implement an alternative level of comparability payments under section 5304a of title 5, United States Code, locality-based comparability payments shall be paid in accordance with Schedule 9 attached hereto and made a part hereof.

(b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement these payments and to publish appropriate notice of such payments in the Federal Register.

Sec. 6. Administrative Law Judges. Pursuant to section 5372 of title 5, United States Code, the rates of basic pay for administrative law judges are set forth on Schedule 10 attached hereto and made a part hereof.

Sec. 7. Effective Dates. Schedule 8 is effective January 1, 2025. The other schedules contained herein are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Sec. 8. Prior Order Superseded. Executive Order 14113 of December 21, 2023 (Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay), is superseded as of the effective dates specified in section 7 of this order.

part ii—rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay

The rate of monthly cadet or midshipman pay authorized by 37 U.S.C. 203(c) is $1,399.80.