Within-grade increases (WGIs) or step increases are periodic increases in a GS employee's rate of basic pay from one step of the grade of his or her position to the next higher step of that grade. Employees who occupy permanent positions earn WGIs upon meeting the following three requirements established by law:

A WGI waiting period begins upon (1) first appointment in the Federal service, (2) receiving an "equivalent increase," or (3) after a period of nonpay status and/or a break in service in excess of 52 calendar weeks.

To be eligible for a QSI, employees must–. Occupy a “permanent position”. 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.

The Office of Personnel Management may require agencies to maintain records and report on the use of the authority to grant or withhold within-grade increases.

(a) An employee paid under a regular Federal Wage System schedule with a work performance rating of satisfactory or better shall advance automatically to the next higher step within the grade in accordance with section 5343 (e) (2) of title 5, United States Code. (b) Waiting periods for within-grade increases shall begin:

2024年12月7日 · Contrary to wide-spread belief, Within Grade Increases (WIGI), also known as a “step increase”, are not automatic pay raises for federal employees. Instead, a WIGI is a periodic step increase within an employee’s grade, with specific …

(1) For an employee with a scheduled tour of duty, the waiting periods for advancement to the next higher step in all General Schedule grades (or the next higher rate within the grade, as defined in § 531.403) are: (i) Rate of basic pay less than the rate of basic pay at step 4-52 calendar weeks of creditable service;

Within-grade increases (WGIs) or step increases are periodic increases in a General Schedule (GS) employee's rate of basic pay from one step of the grade of his or her position to the next higher step of that grade.

What is an Equivalent Increase? An equivalent increase is an increase or increases in an employee's rate of basic pay equal to or greater than the difference between the rate of pay for the GS grade and step occupied by the employee and the next higher step of the grade.

OPM has stressed that within-grade raises must be linked to performance and “should never be viewed as automatic or routine.” Various special pay authorities allow agencies flexibility in...