1. What was the 2008 Federal Pay Increase?

The 2008 federal pay increase was a 3.5% across-the-board raise for most federal employees, effective January 2008. This increase applied to basic pay under the General Schedule and other pay systems.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• Old Salary — The employee's salary before the 2008 increase
• 3.5% — The standard increase rate for 2008

Explanation: The calculation applies a straightforward percentage increase to the base salary.

3. Importance of the Pay Increase

Details: The 3.5% increase was part of ongoing adjustments to federal pay to maintain competitiveness with private sector salaries and account for cost of living changes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the pre-2008 salary amount in dollars. The calculator will show the new salary after the 3.5% increase.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Did all federal employees receive this increase?
A: Most General Schedule employees received the full increase, but some pay systems or special rate employees might have had different adjustments.

Q2: Was this increase the same nationwide?
A: The 3.5% was the base increase, but locality pay adjustments could make the total increase vary by geographic area.

Q3: How does this compare to other years?
A: The 3.5% increase was slightly higher than the 2007 increase (2.2%) but lower than some earlier increases in the 1990s.

Q4: Were there any special provisions?
A: Some senior executives and political appointees had different pay adjustment rules.

Q5: How was this increase determined?
A: The increase was based on recommendations from the President and Congress, considering factors like private sector pay growth and budget constraints.