Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73
§5505 Monthly pay periods; computation of pay
Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart D— - Pay and Allowances › Chapter CHAPTER 55— - PAY ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 5505
Summary
Monthly or annual U.S. pay is one calendar month: month’s pay = one‑twelfth of a year; day’s pay = one‑thirtieth of a month. The 31st is ignored unless absent that day — one day's pay lost. Days before start deducted from first month, daily.
Full Legal Text
Title 5, §5505
Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The pay period for an individual in the service of the United States whose pay is monthly or annual covers one calendar month, and the following rules for division of time and computation of pay for services performed govern:
(1)A month’s pay is one-twelfth of a year’s pay.
(2)A day’s pay is one-thirtieth of a month’s pay.
(3)The 31st day of a calendar month is ignored in computing pay, except that one day’s pay is forfeited for one day’s unauthorized absence on the 31st day of a calendar month.
(4)For each day of the month elapsing before entering the service, one day’s pay is deducted from the first month’s pay of the individual.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 84.
June 30, 1906, ch. 3914, § 6, 34 Stat. 763.
June 30, 1945, ch. 212, § 604(c) (2d sentence), 59 Stat. 303. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 5505
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73