Pay Classification Act Employees

1. Pay Classification Act Employees Pay for General Schedule (GS) employees is part of the Classification Act System and is determined by Congress. Most pay rates are uniform throughout the federal sector. For example, all GS-5s, Step 1, receive the same basic pay regardless of geographical location, but locality pay differs among geographic locations. In addition, special pay rates have been established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to help in recruiting for designated positions. The nationwide GS pay schedule is revised annually in response to the Employment Cost Index (ECI) minus 5%.  This annual pay adjustment is effective the first full pay period of the calendar year.  In addition, as a result of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, the GS pay schedule may be adjusted annually to stay within 5 percent of the ECI. A period of years will be allowed to catch up.

2. Pay Classification Act Employees The locality adjustments are geographic adjustments to pay based on the geographic location of your office.  These adjustments began in 1994 and have resulted in less uniformity of GS pay from area to area.  But these adjustments also mean greater equity with private industry.  As new pay schedules are issued, copies are distributed to all employees.  Schedules are also posted on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) web site, www.opm.gov. When you get to this site, click on Salaries and Wages.

3. Within-Grade Increases (WGI) General Schedule Each GS-1 through GS-15 position has 10 pay steps.  You may receive step increases within your grade level although there is no change in your job.  Eligibility for these step increases is based on time in grade and satisfactory performance.  Step increases are not automatic but require certification from your supervisor that your job performance is meeting an "acceptable" level of competence.  Under normal circumstances, the minimum waiting period for advancement to the next higher step (that is, to qualify for a within grade increase) is:

4. Wage rates may vary across the country Wage and Hourly System Employees Some jobs such as crafts, trades, and manual labor positions are excluded from the Classification Act System.  These jobs are referred to as hourly jobs.  The hourly wage rates for these jobs may be set by BLM, negotiated between BLM and recognized labor organizations, or established under the Federal Wage System (FWS), which is administered by the Office of Personnel Management. Regardless of how the rates are set, they are all based on comparability of prevailing rates within a geographical area.  There is no uniformity of wage rates within BLM.  For example, a carpenter in Santa Fe, New Mexico, may be paid less than a carpenter in Sacramento, California, even though both may be performing the same duties that require the same degree of skill.

5. If you are in a position covered by the Federal Wage System (that is, WG, WL, or WS), you are entitled to receive step increases based on time in grade and satisfactory performance certified by your supervisor. Under normal circumstances, the minimum waiting period for a within grade increase is:

6. 10 hrs 1 hr OT 8 hrs Reg Pay 10 hrs 1 hr OT 4 hrs Reg Pay 10.5 hrs 1.5 hr OT 11 hrs 2 hrs OT Premium Pay   Under certain conditions, you may receive additional pay above your base salary.  These conditions include: Overtime Normally overtime means each hour of work exceeding your normal scheduled tour of duty or a 40-hour work week and the work has been officially ordered and approved.  Overtime may be paid to full-time, part-time, and intermittent employees for work in excess of 8 hours a day or more than 40 hours per week.  Determination and computation of overtime is different if you are working under an Alternative Work Schedule, e.g., maxiflex, compressed, etc.  Contact your supervisor or servicing human resource office for more information on overtime and to determine rate of pay. Sunday Pay As a General Schedule (GS) employee, if you work on a Sunday as part of your regularly scheduled tour of duty, you will receive an additional 25% of your basic rate for each hour of work not exceeding 8 hours.  Sunday pay is not paid for overtime or occasional Sunday work.