Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-102
§5107 Classification of Positions
Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart D — Pay and Allowances › CHAPTER 51 — CLASSIFICATION › § 5107
Summary
Agencies must classify each position into the proper class and grade using Office of Personnel Management (OPM) standards, or consistent standards if no OPM standard applies. Those classifications can be changed if facts warrant and they control pay and personnel actions until OPM issues a certificate, subject to subchapter VI of chapter 53 of this title.
Full Legal Text
Title 5, §5107
Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, each agency shall place each position under its jurisdiction in its appropriate class and grade in conformance with standards published by the Office of Personnel Management or, if no published standards apply directly, consistently with published standards. When facts warrant, an agency may change a position which it has placed in a class or grade under this section from that class or grade to another class or grade. Subject to subchapter VI of chapter 53 of this title, these actions of an agency are the basis for pay and personnel transactions until changed by certificate of the Office.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 1102(a).Oct. 28, 1949, ch. 782, § 502(a), 63 Stat. 958. The words “to which this chapter applies” are omitted as unnecessary in view of section 5102. The words “Subject to section 5337 of this title” are added to reflect the qualification imposed by that section. 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
1978—Pub. L. 95–454 substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”, “Office” for “Commission”, and “subchapter VI of chapter 53” for “section 5337”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by section 803(a)(3)(E) of Pub. L. 95–454, substituting reference to subchapter VI of chapter 53 for reference to section 5337, effective on first day of first applicable pay period beginning on or after 90th day after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 801(a)(4) of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 5361 of this title. Amendment by section 906(a)(2), (3) of Pub. L. 95–454, substituting reference to Office of Personnel Management for reference to Civil Service Commission, 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. § 5107
Title 5, Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102