Since the posting of the 2018 salary information for federal employees under the general schedule, a question has been posed by several readers that may be of interest to others.
Q: There is a 1.4% basic pay increase for most federal employees starting in January 2018. In my locality pay area, the charts indicate that the percentage I will receive for 2018 is 2.07%. Does this mean that my pay raise in January will be 3.47% (i.e., 1.4% + 2.07%)?
A: No, it does not mean your pay raise in January will be 3.47%. The total pay raise for each locality pay area that is listed in the charts incorporates the basic pay raise of 1.4%.
So, for example, in the Denver locality pay area, there will be a locality pay raise of 2.07%. This 2.07% included the basic pay raise of 1.4%.
The often cited average of a 1.9% raise in pay for federal employees in 2018 also included the 1.4%. The average pay increase goes up to 1.9% because of the number of locality pay areas now existing under the General Schedule.
