Federal employees got an early Christmas gift on Thursday, December 21 after President Biden issued the Executive Order finalizing the 2024 federal pay raise ahead of the long Christmas weekend.
2024 Federal Pay Raise: 5.2%
The 2024 federal pay raise will be an overall average of 5.2% based on Biden’s alternative pay plan letter issued at the end of August. Congress took no additional legislative action to override the president’s proposed pay raise, so that figure ultimately is what went into effect.
Under the terms of that letter, the federal pay raise for 2024 will be an across-the-board base pay increase of 4.7% and locality pay increases averaging 0.5%. This will result in an overall average pay increase of 5.2% for federal employees in 2024.
The pay raise will be effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2024.
The 5.2% pay raise is the largest in over 40 years. The last time federal employees received a pay raise of this size was in 1980 under President Carter. It was 9.1% that year.
2024 GS Pay Scale
The 2024 General Schedule (GS) pay scale is based on the 2024 federal pay raise. The GS pay table incorporates a base pay increase of 4.7% and an additional 0.5% for locality pay.
The pay cap for some higher GS grades will be $191,900 in 2024 as limited by the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule. This is a 4.6% increase over the limit in 2023 which was $183,500.
You can view the complete listing of 2024 GS locality pay tables on this page. OPM has also published all of the 2024 GS pay scale tables on its website.
Executive Order on Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
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, 2024. The other schedules contained herein are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2024.
Sec. 8. Prior Order Superseded. Executive Order 14090 of December 23, 2022, is superseded as of the effective dates specified in section 7 of this order.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 21, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2024 Federal Pay Raise
How Much is the 2024 Federal Pay Raise?
The 2024 pay raise for federal employees is an overall average of 5.2%. This consists of a 4.7% base pay increase and an additional 0.5% for locality pay.
When is the 2024 Federal Pay Raise Effective?
The 2024 federal pay raise will be effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2024.
Which Federal Employees Get the 2024 Federal Pay Raise?
The 5.2% pay raise in 2024 outlined by the president’s executive order is for federal employees under the General Schedule.
What is the Salary Cap Under the 2024 Federal Pay Raise?
The salary cap that applies to some higher General Schedule (GS) grades will be $191,900 in 2024 as limited by the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
