Members of the Senior Executive Service will receive the same locality pay raises in 1998 as General Schedule employees, according to the Office of Personnel Management.
The President's Pay Agent, made up of the Labor Secretary and the directors of the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget, announced the decision in a memorandum to the heads of federal departments and agencies last week.
The policy becomes effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after January 1, 1998.
Senior executives will receive the same locality pay rates as all other employees in a given locality. But the actual rate of pay for any executive is capped at Level III ($125,900) of the Executive Schedule.
In 1998, there are 31 local pay areas, plus a "rest of U.S." category that includes all other geographical areas in the continental United States.
In September, President Clinton approved pay increases averaging 2.8 percent for federal employees under the General Schedule next year. The raise will be divided between a 2.3 percent base pay increase and locality pay raises that will average 0.5 percent.
Clinton is expected to issue an executive order by the end of the year that will announce the base pay raise for the SES, administrative law judges, members of the Boards of Contract Appeals, senior-level and scientific or professional positions, Foreign Service members and Senior Foreign Service members.
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