The General Schedule is the federal government's main pay system that sets the pay rates for employees in most white-collar positions not at the senior executive or other senior levels.
Compensation paid to federal employees is subject to a number of benefit-related deductions. Most types of compensation are subject to federal, state, and local (if applicable) tax withholding.
Annual Salaries of Top U.S. Government Positions
The General Schedule is the federal government's main pay system that sets the pay rates for employees in most white-collar positions not at the senior executive or other senior levels.
The federal wage system (FWS)--also known as the wage grade or prevailing rate system--is designed to make the pay of federal blue-collar workers comparable to prevailing private sector local rates for similar positions.
Generally, employees who are not at the highest step of their grade are entitled to receive the within-grade raise authorized for the next step of their position as long as they: complete the required waiting period, have received at least a "fully successful" (or equivalent) rating for their most recent performance appraisal period, and did not receive an equivalent increase during the waiting period.
Agencies have authority to provide additional direct compensation in certain circumstances to support their recruitment, relocation, and retention efforts. Some of these are at an agency's sole discretion while others require approval of the Office of Personnel Management and/or the Office of Management and Budget.
Overtime pay entitlements for federal employees generally arise under either the Fair Labor Standards Act or Title 5 of the U.S. Code. Most non-supervisory General Schedule and wage system employees, as well as postal employees, law enforcement personnel, and certain employees covered by other federal pay systems, are eligible, whether they are full-time, part-time, or intermittent employees.
The term "premium pay" extends to most types of additional pay received by federal employees for working extra hours or performing work that involves unusual situations or requirements such as hazardous duties or night work. Senior Executive Service employees are not entitled to premium pay under any circumstances.
Permanent employees who have been employed continuously for at least 12 months and who lose their jobs through no fault of their own generally are entitled to severance pay under 5 CFR 550, subpart G. This includes employees who are separated in a reduction in force because of abolishment of their positions, or who decline to accompany their positions in a transfer of function to another commuting area.