Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73
§5336 Additional step-increases
Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart D— - Pay and Allowances › Chapter CHAPTER 53— - PAY RATES AND SYSTEMS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - GENERAL SCHEDULE PAY RATES › § 5336
Summary
Agency heads may give one extra pay step to reward very good work, if money is available and OPM sets the rules. That extra step is on top of regular increases and does not apply to Presidential appointees confirmed by the Senate.
Full Legal Text
Title 5, §5336
Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Within the limit of available appropriations and under regulations prescribed by the Office of Personnel Management, the head of each agency may grant additional step-increases in recognition of high quality performance above that ordinarily found in the type of position concerned. However, an employee is eligible under this section for only one additional step-increase within any 52-week period.
(b)A step-increase under this section is in addition to those under section 5335 of this title and is not an equivalent increase in pay within the meaning of section 5335(a) of this title.
(c)This section does not apply to the pay of an individual appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large (a), (b)5 U.S.C. 1122.Oct. 11, 1962, Pub. L. 87–793, § 603 “Sec. 702”, 76 Stat. 847. (c)5 U.S.C. 1123 (less applicability to 5 U.S.C. 1121).Oct. 11, 1962, Pub. L. 87–793, § 603 “Sec. 703 (less applicability to § 701)”, 76 Stat. 847. For repeal of Title VII (section 701–705) of the Act of Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, 63 Stat. 967–969, as amended, see revision note for section 5335. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1993—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 103–89 struck out “covered by the performance management and recognition system established under chapter 54 of this title, or,” after “individual”. 1984—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–615 substituted “the performance management and recognition system established under chapter 54” for “the merit pay system established under section 5402”. 1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–454, § 906(a)(2), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–454, § 503(h), inserted reference to merit pay system established under section 5402 of this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1993 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–89 effective Nov. 1, 1993, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 103–89, set out as a note under section 3372 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1984 Amendment Pub. L. 98–615, title II, § 205, Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3217, provided that amendment by Pub. L. 98–615 was effective Oct. 1, 1984, and applicable with respect to pay periods commencing on or after that date, with certain exceptions and qualifications.
Effective Date
of 1978 Amendment Pub. L. 95–454, title V, § 504(a), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1184, provided that amendment by section 503(h) of Pub. L. 95–454 was effective on first day of first applicable pay period which began on or after Oct. 1, 1981, except it could take effect with respect to any category or categories of positions before such day to extent prescribed by Director of Office of Personnel Management. Amendment by section 906(a)(2) of Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 5336
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73