Information Technology Special Salary Rates

In Reply Refer To: November 14, 2000
Mail Stop 601


MEMORANDUM


To:       Director
          Deputy Director
          Associate Directors
          Chief, Administrative Policy and Services
          Regional Directors 

From:     Robert Hosenfeld                (signed)
          Personnel Officer

Subject:  Information Technology Special Salary Rates

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has established higher rates of 
basic pay for entry and developmental level computer specialists, computer 
engineers, and computer scientists covered by the General Schedule (GS). 
The following information is provided about the new salary rates:

Ø   The new rates are effective January 14, 2001, the first day of the 
first full pay period in January 2001

Ø   The first salary check with the increased pay will be received the 
week of February 5, 2001

Ø   The new rates are ONLY available for employees in the GS-334 
(Computer Specialist), GS-854 (Computer Engineer), and GS-1550 (Computer 
Scientist) series and ONLY for grades 5 through 12

Ø   The increases range from 7 to 33 percent, with employees in the 
lower grades receiving the higher percentage of increase

Ø   The pay increase averages $4,500 per employee over the anticipated 
fiscal year 2001 salary 

Ø   The increased salary is automatic; no management action is 
required to initiate it

Ø   The attached chart breaks down the estimated additional cost of 
the special salary rates, by discipline and region (in developing this chart, 
we used an average special rate increase for each affected grade in each 
of the geographic locations)

Ø   We have been advised that there is no additional funding being 
provided by the Department of the Interior or Congress to cover these new salary 
rates

Ø   A list of the impacted employees can be obtained from your 
servicing personnel office

Ø   Detailed information about the new rates can be found on the OPM 
website at http://www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/2000/2000-14.htm or at 
http://www.usgs.gov:8888/ops/hro/new.html 

If you have any questions regarding the new salary rates, please call 
William E. Fordyce at (703) 648-7443.

Attachment


IT Salary Increase over Pay Year 2001 Salaries based on Projected Salary Increase Ranges *
Reflecting additional 20% for Benefits and 3/4 of Pay Year (remaining 
Fiscal Year 2001)

 REGION 
 HQER/SERCRWRTOTAL
HQ/DO145,54019,19162,53926,759$254,029
BRD 87,07590,99740,974$219,045
WRD 268,295166,787184,772$619,854
NMD 48,978278,88128,439$356,299
GD 90,58173,064120,029$283,674
CR  18,553 $18,553
WR    31,854$31,854
TOTAL$145,540$514,119$690,821$432,826$1,783,307
Reflects 3/4 of IT Special Rate Increase for Pay Year 2001 to reflect 
Fiscal Year budget increase for salaries (January through September). 
Includes an additional 20% for Benefits.  Excludes the assumed 3.7 percent 
overall average GS pay increase for Pay Year 2001.
 
* Dollar amounts reflect averages for each affected grade in each 
Geographic Cluster for IT Special Rates, 
not exact amounts. 

Computations are based on the averages of the highs and lows (Steps 1 and 
10) for GS Locality Pay Tables and the associated Projected Salary Ranges 
for IT Special Rates for each affected grade.