Title 5Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73not60

§5344 Effective Date of Wage Increase; Retroactive Pay

Title 5 › Part III— EMPLOYEES › Subpart D— Pay and Allowances › Chapter 53— PAY RATES AND SYSTEMS › Subchapter IV— PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS › § 5344

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Wage-survey pay increases for prevailing-rate employees must start by the first day of the first pay period that begins on or after the 45th day, not counting Saturdays and Sundays, after the survey is ordered. Back pay for the increase is paid only if the person was working for the U.S. government (including the armed forces) or the D.C. government when the raise order was issued, or if the person retired or died between the raise’s effective date and that order — and then only for work done in that period.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §5344

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Each increase in rates of basic pay granted, pursuant to a wage survey, to prevailing rate employees is effective not later than the first day of the first pay period which begins on or after the 45th day, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, following the date the wage survey is ordered to be made.
(b)Retroactive pay is payable by reason of an increase in rates of basic pay referred to in subsection (a) of this section only when—
(1)the individual is in the service of the Government of the United States, including service in the armed forces, or the government of the District of Columbia on the date of the issuance of the order granting the increase; or
(2)the individual retired or died during the period beginning on the effective date of the increase and ending on the date of issuance of the order granting the increase, and only for services performed during that period.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those comprising subsec. (a) of this section were contained in Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 471 (formerly classified to section 5343 of this title) prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 92–392.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective on first day of first applicable pay period beginning on or after 90th day after Aug. 19, 1972, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 92–392, set out as a note under section 5341 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 5344

Title 5Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60