---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 10204"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "10204"
heading: "Rate of pay for original appointments"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/10204"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart I — Miscellaneous"
  - "Chapter 102 — United States Secret Service Uniformed Division Personnel"
---

# §10204. Rate of pay for original appointments

- (a) **In General.—** Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b), all original appointments shall be made at the minimum rate of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) for the Officer rank set forth in the schedule in section 10203.
- (b) **Exception for Superior Qualifications or Special Need.—** The [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) Secret [Service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) or the designee of the [Director](/usc/5/8401.md?p=8) may appoint an individual at a rate above the minimum rate of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) for the Officer rank based on the individual’s superior qualifications or a special need of the [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) for the individual’s [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 111–282, § 2(a), Oct. 15, 2010, 124 Stat. 3036.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on first day of first pay period which begins after Oct. 15, 2010, see section 5 of Pub. L. 111–282, set out as an Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note under section 5102 of this title.