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FederalPay.org
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 * How Do I Increase My Grade or Step?


HOW DO I INCREASE MY GRADE OR STEP? - FEDERALPAY.ORG


HOW DO GRADE AND STEP INCREASES WORK IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

For the General Schedule (GS), Federal Wage System (FWS), and the Law
Enforcement Office (LEO) Schedule, pay is based on grades and steps.

Grade increases are considered promotions linked to the title, job
responsibilities, education, and experience. Pay steps are based on the length
of service within your current grade. Step increases are raises but are not
considered promotions. Once you have worked the required length of time within
the existing grade and as long as you have received a satisfactory score on your
performance review, you will automatically receive a step increase. The required
length of service ranges from 6 months to 3 years, depending on the pay scale
and current step.


STEP INCREASES

There are ten steps in each of the GS and LEO grades. There are only five steps
for the FWS schedule. For GS and LEO, the first three-step increases occur every
year, the subsequent three-step increases occur every two years, and the final
three-step increases occur every three years. It takes 18 years to advance to
step 10. For the FWS schedule, the first step occurs after six months, the
second step increases after 18 months, and the final two-step increases occur
after two years.

Most employees start at step 1, but you may be given a higher step to start
under some conditions. The percentage rise between steps depends on where you
are in the pay scale. Step increases generally equate to a 2 or 3 percent raise.

If you get a grade increase, your step increase time restarts, and your step
will usually be two steps lower in your new grade. For instance, if you are a
GS-11, Step 7, and receive a promotion to GS-12, you will still be at Step 5 and
will have to wait two years to receive a step increase, regardless of how long
you were in the GS-11, Step 7 position. Your salary at the new grade will always
be higher than it was at the lower grade, even though your step may now be
lower. When increasing your grade, your step will be lowered in the new grade so
that your net raise equals two step increases within your old grade.

Escalation of duties, additional education, or a change in position can also
qualify an individual for a grade increase. Grade increases may be guaranteed
when a person is hired. As long as the employee receives a good review, they
will receive a promotion automatically. Also, as employees gain experience in
their current position, they may qualify for a grade increase.

Employees may advance 1 or 2 grades per year for their first 2 or 3 years based
on position and job performance before beginning to move laterally up the ten
pay steps. The time frame for advancement may vary between organizations.

Promotions up to GS-12 and below can be given automatically or at management’s
discretion. Below GS-12 is considered non-competitive. At GS-13 and above,
positions are considered competitive and must be listed publicly on USAJobs.gov
for any qualified U.S. citizen or current federal employee to apply. The only
way to receive a GS-13 or above position is to apply for a competitive position.


GRADE INCREASES

A grade increase equates to approximately a 10 percent raise, however, this
varies based on step and grade.

Once an employee has reached the highest grade within their pay schedule, they
may encounter a cap on their pay. GS and LEO pay is capped at SES Level IV
yearly salary.



In addition to grade and step increases, an entire pay schedule may be increased
by a certain percentage each year. The yearly increases are designed to keep up
with inflation and growing costs of living. The entire pay scale increases are
based on the president’s discretion. For years, the pay scales received regular
increases of between 1 and 3 percent. More recently, the federal government has
cut back on these yearly raises. From 2010 to 2013, the pay scales were frozen.
In 2014, 2015, and 2016 the pay scales were increased by only 1 percent each
year.

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