Federal Employees will receive an across-the-board pay raise of 4.7% in 2022, plus an additional locality pay adjustment.
The 4.7% pay raise 2023 charts are now available along with all special rates. Review the locality pay area definitions outlining the pay rates for all regions nationwide. If you are employed in the federal sector, use the 2023 Federal Employee’s Excel Leave Chart to track your weekly schedule and record your annual and sick leave, comp, and credit hours used.
The rates of basic pay or salaries of the statutory pay systems are included. The general categories are listed below:
- The General Schedule
- The Foreign Service Schedule
- Schedules for the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Senior Executive Service
- Certain Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Salaries
- The Executive Schedule
The General Schedule (GS) Pay System
The General Schedule (GS) classification and pay system covers the majority of civilian white-collar Federal employees (about 1.5 million worldwide) in professional, technical, administrative, and clerical positions. This pay system is administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Agencies classify their GS positions and appoints and pays GS employees filling those positions following OPM guidelines.
The General Schedule has 15 grades, GS-1 (lowest) to GS-15 (highest). Agencies establish the grade of each job based on the level of difficulty, responsibility, and qualifications required. Individuals with a high school diploma and no additional experience typically qualify for GS-2 positions; those with a Bachelor’s degree for GS-5 positions; and those with a Master’s degree for GS-9 positions.
Each grade has 10 step rates (1-10). Within-grade step increases are based on an acceptable level of performance and longevity (waiting periods of 1 year at steps 1-3, 2 years at steps 4-6, and 3 years at steps 7-9). It normally takes 18 years to advance from step 1 to step 10 within a single GS grade if an employee remains in that single grade. However, employees with outstanding (or equivalent) performance ratings may be considered for additional, quality step increases (maximum of one per year).
A new GS employee is usually hired at step one of the applicable GS grade. However, in special circumstances, agencies may authorize a higher step rate for a newly-appointed Federal employee based on a special need of the agency or superior qualifications of the prospective employee.
Federal Wage System (FWS) 2024 Increase
FWS employees, those working in the trades and laborers (typically referred to as blue-collar workers) were specifically excluded from the GS locality pay system because they are paid under a separate, preexisting prevailing rate system that reflects private sector practices for setting pay at different levels of work for trades, craft, and laborer occupations. Thus, the Federal Government’s compensation practices mirror the private sector’s general practice of establishing separate and distinct pay structures and pay adjustment mechanisms for white-collar and blue-collar employees.
The 2023 FWS pay increase is delayed until the FY 2023 pay limitations are released. Once released the new pay rates will be retroactive to the beginning of the year.
Suggestion
If you are being considered for an appointment to a federal job, you are able to negotiate starting salaries under certain conditions. You can’t request a higher starting salary after you official accept an offer. Those with student loans can request student loan payoff assistance of up to $10,000 a year for a maximum of $60,000! Explore all incentives before accepting a position.