Title 5, Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-102
§5348 Crews of Vessels
Title 5 › PART III — EMPLOYEES › Subpart D — Pay and Allowances › CHAPTER 53 — PAY RATES AND SYSTEMS › SUBCHAPTER IV — PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS › § 5348
Summary
Officers and crew of certain vessels must get prevailing maritime pay and not exceed the Vice President’s pay. The normal pay cap does not apply; Corps of Engineers and areas without maritime practice use other rules.
Full Legal Text
Title 5, §5348
Government Organization and Employees, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Except as provided by subsection (c), the pay of officers and members of crews of vessels excepted from chapter 51 of this title by section 5102(c)(8) of this title shall be fixed and adjusted from time to time as nearly as is consistent with the public interest in accordance with prevailing rates and practices in the maritime industry, not to exceed the rate of pay for the Vice President under section 104 of title 3.
(b)The aggregate pay limitation prescribed under section 5307 shall not apply to an employee whose pay is fixed under subsection (a).
(c)Vessel employees in an area where inadequate maritime industry practice exists and vessel employees of the Corps of Engineers shall have their pay fixed and adjusted under the provisions of this subchapter other than this section, as appropriate.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1104(1), substituted “subsection (c)” for “subsection (b) of this section” and inserted “, not to exceed the rate of pay for the Vice President under section 104 of title 3” before period at end. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 119–60, § 1104(2), (3), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c). 1996—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104–201, § 3548(a)(3)(C)(iii), substituted “subsection (b)” for “subsections (b) and (c)”. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 104–201, § 3548(a)(3)(C)(i), (ii), redesignated subsec. (c) as (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “Vessel employees of the Panama Canal Commission may be paid in accordance with the wage practices of the maritime industry.” 1979—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–70 substituted “Commission” for “Company”. 1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–392 inserted reference to subsection (c) of this section. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 92–392 added subsec. (c).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1979 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–70 effective Oct. 1, 1979, see section 3304 of Pub. L. 96–70, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 3601 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse.
Effective Date
of 1972 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 92–392 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 an
Effective Date
note under section 5341 of this title. Limitation on Pay AdjustmentsFor provisions limiting the adjustment of salary or basic pay of employees covered by this section, see provisions set out as notes under section 5343 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 5348
Title 5, Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102