Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart D— - Pay and Allowances › Chapter CHAPTER 53— - PAY RATES AND SYSTEMS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - PAY COMPARABILITY SYSTEM › § 5302
Defines key words used in this part of the law. "Statutory pay system" means a pay system under subchapter III (General Schedule), section 403 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, or chapter 74 of title 38 (Veterans Health Administration), except positions under section 7451 of title 38. "ECI" is the Employment Cost Index (wages and salaries, private industry workers) published quarterly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Base quarter" is the three-month period ending September 30 of a year. "Pay agent" is the agent the President names under section 5304(d)(1). "Locality" or "pay locality" is any area set or changed under section 5304. "Pay disparity" is how much GS pay is lower than local non‑Federal pay, shown as one percentage. "Comparability payment" is a payment under section 5304. "Rates of pay under the General Schedule" are the basic GS pay rates in section 5332, not including section 5304 pay or other extra pay. "General Schedule position" is any job covered by subchapter III.
Full Legal Text
Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 5302
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73