COLA’s and pay raises are of interest to virtually all of our readers. There is also confusion about who gets what increase. Here is a brief explanation of the 2009 COLA and the 2009 federal employee pay raise–and why you do not get both a pay raise and a COLA.
A temporary government spending bill will fund the federal government into March of next year. It also contains an average pay raise for federal employees of 3.9% that will be effective in January.
What will your paycheck look like in 2009? It looks like the 3.9% average pay raise for federal GS employees may eventually be approved.
Everyone has noticed that prices are going up. Inflation may have an impact on your paycheck next year. The annual increase in retirement checks will go up next January, probably at least 4.5%. Current federal employees may be looking at an average increase of 3.9%–but locality pay will make a big difference in the actual check for current employees.
Most American companies have some type of pay for performance system. But pay for performance is unique in the federal government and has generated heated debate and intense opposition. With the average employee under the new system getting a raise that is twice as large as the rest of the federal workforce, it may not seem as threatening.
Readers have been asking questions about the 2008 pay raise. Most of the questions boil down to “Why didn’t I get the 3.5% I am supposed to get in my check this year?” or “How come people in DC are getting more than I am getting when they already make more money?”
It is hard to believe but the annual federal pay raise has been approved and OPM has issued various documents implementing the 2008 pay rates for federal employees. The median salary for federal employees in the DC area in 2008: $90,698.
This table displays the biweekly premium pay caps for 2008 by locality pay area. These caps become effective as of the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2008.
President Bush has issued an executive order implementing the 2008 pay raise for GS employees.
Readers have asked several questions about the pay tables we have posted on our site for the 2008 pay raise. Here are answers to the most common questions.
