What is the GS two step rule?

The GS Two-Step Rule is a U.S. federal pay regulation ensuring a meaningful pay increase when a General Schedule (GS) employee gets promoted; it sets your new salary at the lowest step in the higher grade that's at least two within-grade step increases above your old pay, using either a standard or alternate method to find your new, higher starting pay. It ensures promotions aren't just a small bump, but a real career advancement with better compensation, applying when you move to a higher grade without a break in service.

What is the GS 2 step rule?

The two-step promotion rule states that a GS employee promoted to a position in a higher grade is entitled to basic pay at the lowest rate of the higher grade that exceeds his or her existing rate of basic pay by not less than two step increases of the grade from which promoted.

Will there be a 2026 GS pay raise?

The President has issued an executive order (EO) implementing the 1 percent across-the-board pay raise for the General Schedule federal workforce. These new pay rates will be effective in the first full pay period of 2026.

How long does it take to get to step 2 GS?

A step increase is the most common kind of raise for GS employees, and the amount of time between step increases is dependent on the step. As a GS employee, you have to wait one year to increase to a step 2, 3, or 4. You must wait two years before increasing to step 5, 6, or 7.

Is a 20% raise for a promotion reasonable?

Yes, a 20% raise for a promotion is generally considered very good, often excellent, as it's significantly higher than typical annual raises (3-5%) and even above the average promotion increase (often 10-20%), reflecting substantial new responsibility or exceptional performance, though its value depends on your industry, location, and existing salary. 

Grade and Step Increases in Federal Government - USAjobs

Is a 4.5% raise good?

Yes, a 4.5% raise is generally considered good, as it's above the typical 3-4% merit increase and aligns with or exceeds recent average raises and cost-of-living adjustments, making it a solid performance-based gain, though exceptional circumstances (like a promotion with new responsibilities) might warrant higher percentages. 

What is a dry promotion?

Also known as no-raise or quiet promotions, dry promotions are when an employee is offered increased job responsibilities, and often a new job title, but without a corresponding increase in compensation.

Is there a GS pay increase for 2025?

Yes, there was a General Schedule (GS) pay increase for 2025, resulting in an average 2% overall raise, composed of a 1.7% base increase and a 0.3% locality pay boost, implemented under President Biden's plan before the end of 2024, with new salary tables released by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). 

What is the 5 year rule for federal employees?

The federal employee 5-year rule primarily refers to the requirement for continuing Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) into retirement, meaning you generally need five years of continuous coverage immediately before retirement, or for your entire period of service if less than five years, to keep these benefits, with previous coverage potentially counting if there was a break in service. This ensures benefits aren't used briefly just before leaving but are part of a long-term commitment, applying to both health and life insurance. 

Is GS 15 a good salary?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $119,604 and as low as $42,023, the majority of Gs 15 salaries currently range between $53,900 (25th percentile) to $97,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $109,367 annually in Los Angeles.

Is GS 11 a good salary?

Yes, a GS-11 salary is generally considered a strong, professional mid-level income, often requiring a bachelor's or advanced degree, providing good benefits, stability, and significant earning potential, though its actual value depends heavily on your cost of living (locality) and personal needs, with some noting it can be tight for large families in high-cost areas. 

Who still pays $7.25 an hour?

Employers in states without higher minimum wages, primarily in the South like Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and others, still pay $7.25/hour, the federal minimum, with Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee having no state minimum wage, meaning the federal rate applies, though few workers actually earn it due to local laws or other factors. 

How much is a GS 13 salary in 2025?

A GS-13 salary in 2025 ranges from approximately $90,025 (Step 1) to $117,034 (Step 10) in base pay, not including locality adjustments which significantly increase earnings, with the actual pay depending on your step (experience) and location (locality pay). For example, in 2025, a GS-13 Step 4 had a base of around $99,028, while a Step 6 base was about $105,030, showing how steps add significant pay. 

Can you negotiate a GS step in a promotion?

Under the government pay system, it can be difficult to negotiate a higher GS level—as the pay grades are called under the government's General Schedule—than the one listed in the job description. But each grade has 10 steps that come with a higher salary and career advancement, and those step levels are more flexible.

When not to take QSI?

Temporary Appointments. An employee on a temporary appointment is not eligible for a QSI. The law describes a QSI as “an additional step increase.” An employee is eligible for a QSI only if he or she is eligible for a WGI. WGIs apply only to GS employees occupying permanent positions.

How much should salary increase after promotion?

A promotion raise should typically be 10% to 20%, significantly more than a standard merit raise (3-5%), to reflect increased responsibilities and a higher job level, with averages often landing around 10-12% but potentially reaching 20% or more for major role changes or high-demand fields, say Salary.com, Robert Half, and Glassdoor. You should aim higher (15-20%+) if moving to a completely new level or industry, while a smaller jump (7-12%) might suffice for moving within a similar band, using market data and your specific accomplishments to justify your ask. 

Is $700000 in super enough to retire?

Yes, $700,000 in superannuation can be enough to retire, but it depends heavily on your desired lifestyle, spending habits, investment returns, and if you'll receive the Australian Age Pension, with some sources suggesting it supports a modest retirement for a single person or couple for decades, while others note it might not cover a luxurious lifestyle or very early retirement. A comfortable lifestyle might need $700k+ for a couple (around $47k-$73k/year), but for a single person with lower spending, it could last 30+ years, especially with Age Pension supplements and good investment growth (e.g., 6% earning ~$42k/year). 

Can I retire at 55 with 10 years of federal service?

Immediate Retirement

If you retire at the MRA with at least 10, but less than 30 years of service, your benefit will be reduced by 5 percent a year for each year you are under 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your benefit starts when you reach age 60 or later.

How many people have $500,000 in their retirement account?

While many Americans have less than $10,000 for retirement, around 7% to 9% of U.S. households have $500,000 or more in retirement savings, though this varies by age, income, and specific data source, with older, higher-income individuals having higher balances. For example, some 2025 data suggests about 9.3% of households with any retirement funds hold $500k+, while other reports from late 2025 place that figure closer to 7.2%. 

Is there going to be a 2026 federal pay raise?

The 2026 pay raise for general schedule (GS) employees will take effect during the first full pay period of 2026, which is January 11-24 for most employees. Before Christmas, President Trump signed an executive order implementing a one percent raise for most civilian employees, the smallest increase since 2021.

Is a 3% raise really a raise?

Yes, a 3% raise is a raise in that your pay goes up, but whether it's a good raise depends heavily on inflation and cost of living; it's often considered a standard, minimal adjustment to keep pace, not a significant boost, especially if inflation is high, potentially just covering increased costs rather than improving your financial standing. While it's a common budget amount for companies, a raise below the inflation rate means you're effectively earning less in real terms, though a 3-5% range is typical for annual merit/cost-of-living bumps.
 

What is the 2 step rule for GS promotion?

When you are promoted to a higher GS grade, your new salary is not just the starting salary of the new grade. Instead, agencies must apply the two-step promotion rule. This rule ensures that a promotion results in a pay increase that is, at a minimum, equivalent to two step increases in the grade you are leaving.

Why do high performers fail to get promoted?

High performers often don't get promoted because they stay too focused on their current tasks (working "in" the business, not "on" it), lack visibility with key decision-makers, fail to develop strategic and leadership skills (like people management), don't communicate their value effectively, or struggle with feedback, all while being indispensable in their current role, making them too valuable to move. 

What is the 3 month rule in a job?

The "3-month rule" in a new job refers to the initial probation period (often 90 days) where both employer and employee assess fit, focusing on learning systems, team dynamics, and core skills, not immediate high performance, with success measured by integration, asking questions, and showing initiative rather than perfection. It's a transition phase for understanding the role, with a common 30-60-90 day breakdown: 1st month for learning, 2nd for contributing, 3rd for execution. 

What are the 4 types of promotion?

The four classic types of promotion, often called the promotional mix, are Advertising, Sales Promotion, Public Relations (PR), and Personal Selling, used together to persuade customers and build demand, though sometimes Direct Marketing or Digital Marketing replace one of these. These methods cover paid ads, short-term incentives, managing public image, and direct customer interaction, respectively, forming a comprehensive strategy to reach target audiences and drive sales.