While an estimated 10.3 million people across the nation are unemployed, state employees are being furloughed, and countless more workers are concerned about impending layoffs or company closings, the federal government is like the "Energizer Bunny"...it keeps going and going.
Last Thursday, President Bush issued an executive order which implements the 3.9 percent pay increases for federal employees included in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act passed in September.
The 3.9 percent increase brings the 2009 civilian pay increase in line with the raise for members of the military. For General Schedule employees, base pay will range from $17,540 for employees in Grade 1, Step 1, to $127,604 for employees in Grade 15, Step 10. For employees in the Senior Executive Service, pay will range from $117,787 to $177,000 for executives in agencies with certified SES performance appraisal systems, and from $117,787 to $162,900 in agencies without such systems.
It's even better being a recession proof fed in the national capital region. Employees in the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia area will receive the highest total pay adjustment, at 4.78 percent. Those in the "rest of U.S." category will get an overall boost of 3.52 percent.
For a complete percentage increase break down see the Office of Personnel Management 2009 locality pay tables which accompanied the Executive Order.
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