The Federal Wage System (FWS) is a uniform pay-setting system that covers Federal appropriated fund and nonappropriated fund blue-collar employees who are paid by the hour.  The system's goal is to make sure that Federal trade, craft, and laboring employees within a local wage area who perform the same duties receive the same rate of pay.  The FWS includes 130 appropriated fund and 118 nonappropriated fund local wage areas.  Successful labor-management partnership is the hallmark of the FWS, with labor organizations involved in all phases of administering the pay system.

Under this uniform pay system -

• Your pay will be the same as the pay of other Federal jobs like yours in your wage area, and
• Your pay will be in line with pay for private sector jobs like yours in your wage area.

Pay Limitation

On December 21, 2023, OPM issued Compensation Policy Memorandum 2023-22 (external link) to notify agencies that section 737 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, as extended by the Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024, continues the provisions affecting the determination of pay adjustments for certain prevailing rate (wage) employees in Fiscal Year 2024.

Operating Manuals

The FWS Appropriated Fund and Nonappropriated Fund Operating Manuals contain information about the history of the FWS program, how wage surveys are conducted, setting pay for FWS employees, premium pay guidelines, special rates and schedules, and set-aside schedules. The FWS Operating Manuals are useful tools for personnel specialists and FWS employees.

* Hearing impaired users may utilize the Federal Relay Service by dialing 1-800-877-8339** to reach a Communications Assistant (CA). The CA will dial the requested number and relay the conversation between a standard (voice) telephone user and text telephone (TTY) user.

** Visiting the Federal Relay Service website will provide access to additional Toll-Free and Toll Access Numbers.

Table of Contents

• Subchapter S1. Basic Authorities
• Subchapter S2. Scope Of System
• Subchapter S3. Organization And Functional Responsibilities
• Subchapter S4. Wage Schedules
• Subchapter S5. Prevailing Rate Determination
• Subchapter S6. Job-Grading System
• Subchapter S7. Job-Grading Appeals
• Subchapter S8. Pay Administration
• Subchapter S9. Grade And Pay Retention Under The Federal Wage System
• Subchapter S10. [Reserved]
• Subchapter S11. Special Wage Rate Schedules
• Subchapter S12. Special Rates Or Rate Ranges Under The Federal Wage System
• Appendix A. [Reserved]
• Appendix B. [Reserved]
• Appendix C. Nationwide Schedule Of Regular Wage Surveys
• Appendix D. Wage And Survey Areas
• Appendix E. Survey Job Descriptions
• Appendix F. Instructions For Data Collectors
• Appendix G. Computing A Wage Trend Line
• Appendix H. Sample Federal Wage System Wage Schedule
• Appendix I. Description Of Key Ranking Jobs
• Appendix J. Schedule Of Environmental Differentials Paid For Exposure To Various Degrees Of Hazards, Physical Hardships, And Working Conditions Of An Unusual Nature
• Appendix K. [Reserved]
• Appendix L. Special Schedule Survey Job Descriptions
• Appendix M. Worksheet For Federal Wage System Special Rates
• Appendix N. [Reserved]
• Appendix O. [Reserved]
• Appendix P. [Reserved]
• Appendix Q. [Reserved]
• Appendix R. [Reserved]
• Appendix S. [Reserved]
• Appendix T. Appropriate Offices Of Opm For Submission Of Federal Wage System Job-Grading Appeals
• Appendix U. [Reserved]
• Appendix V. Listing Of Agency Special Wage Schedules And Rates Documented Under The Federal Wage System

Table of Contents

• Subchapter S1. Basic Authorities
• Subchapter S2. Scope of NAF System
• Subchapter S3. Organizational and Functional Responsibilities
• Subchapter S4. NAF Wage Schedules
• Subchapter S5. Prevailing Rate Determination
• Subchapter S6. NAF Job-Grading System
• Subchapter S7. NAF Job-Grading Appeals
• Subchapter S8. NAF Pay Administration
• Subchapter S9. Grade and Pay Retention under the Federal Wage System
• Subchapter S10. [Reserved]
• Subchapter S11. Special Wage Rate Schedules
• Subchapter S12. Special Rates or Rate Ranges under the Federal Wage System
• Appendix A. [Reserved]
• Appendix B. [Reserved]
• Appendix C. Nationwide Schedule of Nonappropriated Fund Regular Wage Surveys
• Appendix D. Wage and Survey Areas
• Appendix E. Survey Job Descriptions
• Appendix F. Instructions for Data Collectors
• Appendix G. Computing a Wage Trend Line
• Appendix H. Sample NAF Federal Wage System Wage Schedule
• Appendix I. Descriptions of Key Ranking Jobs
• Appendix J. Schedule of Environmental Differentials Paid for Exposure to Various Degrees of Hazards, Physical Hardships, and Working Conditions of an Unusual Nature
• Appendix K. [Reserved]
• Appendix L. [Reserved]
• Appendix M. Worksheet for Federal Wage System Special Rates (NAF)
• Appendix N. [Reserved]
• Appendix O. [Reserved]
• Appendix P. [Reserved]
• Appendix Q. [Reserved]
• Appendix R. [Reserved]
• Appendix S. [Reserved]
• Appendix T. Appropriate Offices of OPM for Submission of Federal Wage System Job-Grading Appeals
• Appendix U. [Reserved]
• Appendix V. Listing of Agency Special Wage Schedules and Rates for Nonappropriated Fund Employees Documented Under the Federal Wage System

The following documents provide guidance to Federal agencies on the application of the Federal Minimum Wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, as amended, to employees of the Federal Government.

• Memorandum for Human Resources Directors, Increase in Minimum Wage (July 23, 2007)
• Notice of OPM Operating Information, Notice Number 52 (September 20, 1996)

The Department of Defense (DOD) is the lead agency responsible for conducting Federal Wage System (FWS) wage surveys and issuing wage schedules. DOD's Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service maintains a website with all FWS wage schedules. You can visit the FWS wage schedules website or contact DOD directly at 571-372-1614.

• The Pay of Bureau of Prisons Federal Wage System Employees
• Cost of Administering The Federal Wage System
• Salinas-Monterey, California, Federal Wage System Wage Area

The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) studies the prevailing rate system and other matters pertinent to the establishment of prevailing rates under subchapter IV of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, and advises the Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on the Governmentwide administration of the pay system for blue-collar Federal employees.

FPRAC has five management members, five labor members, and one Chairman appointed by the Director of OPM.

• Five management seats: Department of Defense, two of the military departments (Army, Navy, and Air Force rotate through 2 seats annually), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and OPM staff.

• Five labor seats: Metal Trades Department/AFL-CIO, the American Federation of Government Employees (2 seats), the National Association of Government Employees, and the Association of Civilian Technicians (Ind.).

Meeting Dates for 2024

FPRAC meets on a monthly basis. Committee meetings are open to the public.

The following are tentative meeting dates for 2024:

• Thursday, January 18, 2024 - Canceled
• Thursday, February 15, 2024
• Thursday, March 21, 2024
• Thursday, April 18, 2024 - Canceled
• Thursday, May 16, 2024 
• Thursday, June 20, 2024
• Thursday, July 18, 2024
• Thursday, August 15, 2024
• Thursday, September 19, 2024
• Thursday, October 17, 2024
• Thursday, November 21, 2024
• Thursday, December 19, 2024

Meeting Transcripts

A transcript for each FPRAC meeting is recorded and approved by the Committee. You may find a copy of the text of the proceedings for recent meetings below.

• Meeting Number 649 - December 21, 2023
• Meeting Number 648 - October 19, 2023
• Meeting Number 647 - July 20,2023
• Meeting Number 646 - May 18, 2023
• Meeting Number 645 - April 20, 2023
• Meeting Number 644 - February 16, 2023
• Meeting Number 643 - January 19, 2023
• Meeting Number 642 - October 20, 2022
• Meeting Number 641 – September 15, 2022
• Meeting Number 640 – July 21, 2022
• Meeting Number 639 – June 16, 2022
• Meeting Number 638 – May 19, 2022
• Meeting Number 637 – April 21, 2022
• Meeting Number 636 – November 19, 2020
• Meeting Number 635 – September 17, 2020
• Meeting Number 634 – August 20, 2020
• Meeting Number 633 – July 16, 2020
• Meeting Number 632 – March 19, 2020
• Meeting Number 631 – February 20, 2020
• Meeting Number 630 – January 16, 2020
• Meeting Number 629 – December 19, 2019
• Meeting Number 628 – October 17, 2019
• Meeting Number 627 – September 19, 2019
• Meeting Number 626 – July 18, 2019
• Meeting Number 625 – June 20, 2019
• Meeting Number 624 – May 16, 2019
• Meeting Number 623 - March 31, 2019
• Meeting Number 622 – December 20, 2018
• Meeting Number 621 – October 18, 2018
• Meeting Number 620 – September 20, 2018
• Meeting Number 619 – January 12, 2017
• Meeting Number 618 – December 15, 2016
• Meeting Number 617 – November 17, 2016
• Meeting Number 616 – September 15, 2016
• Meeting Number 615 – August 18, 2016
• Meeting Number 614 – July 21, 2016
• Meeting Number 613 – June 16, 2016
• Meeting Number 612 – May 19, 2016
• Meeting Number 611 – March 17, 2016
• Meeting Number 610 – February 18, 2016
• Meeting Number 609 – January 21, 2016
• Meeting Number 608 – October 15, 2015
• Meeting Number 607 – September 17, 2015
• Meeting Number 606 – June 18, 2015
• Meeting Number 605 – May 21, 2015
• Meeting Number 604 – April 16, 2015
• Meeting Number 603 – March 19, 2015
• Meeting Number 602 – February 19, 2015
• Meeting Number 601 – January 15, 2015
• Meeting Number 600 – December 18, 2014
• Meeting Number 599 – November 20, 2014
• Meeting Number 598 – October 16, 2014
• Meeting Number 597 – August 21, 2014
• Meeting Number 596 – July 17, 2014
• Meeting Number 595 – June 19, 2014
• Meeting Number 594 – May 15, 2014
• Meeting Number 593 – April 17, 2014
• Meeting Number 592 – March 20, 2014
• Meeting Number 591 – February 20, 2014
• Meeting Number 590 – January 16, 2014
• Meeting Number 589 – December 19, 2013
• Meeting Number 588 – November 21, 2013
• Meeting Number 587 – September 19, 2013
• Meeting Number 586 – August 15, 2013
• Meeting Number 585 – June 20, 2013
• Meeting Number 584 – May 16, 2013
• Meeting Number 583 – March 21, 2013
• Meeting Number 582 - February 21, 2013
• Meeting Number 581 - December 13, 2012
• Meeting Number 580 - November 15, 2012
• Meeting Number 579 - October 18, 2012
• Meeting Number 578 - September 13, 2012
• Meeting Number 577 - August 16, 2012
• Meeting Number 576 - July 19, 2012
• Meeting Number 575 - June 21, 2012
• Meeting Number 574 - April 19, 2012
• Meeting Number 573 - March 15, 2012
• Meeting Number 572 - March 8, 2012
• Meeting Number 571 - February 16, 2012
• Meeting Number 570 - January 19, 2012
• Meeting Number 569 - December 15, 2011
• Meeting Number 568 - October 20, 2011
• Meeting Number 567 - September 15, 2011
• Meeting Number 566 - August 18, 2011
• Meeting Number 565 - July 21, 2011
• Meeting Number 564 - June 16, 2011
• Meeting Number 563 - May 19, 2011
• Meeting Number 562 - April 21, 2011
• Meeting Number 561 - February 17, 2011
• Meeting Number 560 - January 20, 2011

Annual Reports

Annually, the Office of the Chair compiles a report of pay issues discussed and concluded recommendations.

• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2023
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2022
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2020
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2019
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2017 - 2018
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2016
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2015
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2014
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2013
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2012 
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2011
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Year 2010
• Annual Summary of Recommendations and Discussions, Calendar Years 2008 and 2009

Charter

The FPRAC Charter is reviewed every 2 years. The current Charter was issued on January 9, 2024.