---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5344"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5344"
heading: "Effective date of wage increase; retroactive pay"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5344"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 53 — Pay Rates and Systems"
  - "Subchapter IV — Prevailing Rate Systems"
---

# §5344. Effective date of wage increase; retroactive pay

- (a) Each increase in rates of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) granted, pursuant to a wage survey, to [prevailing rate employees](/usc/5/5342.md?p=a-2) is effective not later than the first day of the first [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period which begins on or after the 45th day, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, following the date the wage survey is ordered to be made.
- (b) Retroactive [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) is payable by reason of an increase in rates of [basic pay](/usc/5/8401.md?p=4) referred to in [subsection (a)](#a) of this section only when—
  - (1) the individual is in the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of the [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18), including [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) in the armed forces, or the [government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) of the District of Columbia on the date of the issuance of the order granting the increase; or
  - (2) the individual retired or died during the period beginning on the effective date of the increase and ending on the date of issuance of the order granting the increase, and only for [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) performed during that period.

  For the purpose of this subsection, [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) in the armed forces includes the period provided by statute for the mandatory restoration of the individual to a [position](/usc/5/5102.md?p=a-3) in or under the [Government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) or the [government](/usc/5/4101.md?p=3) of the District of Columbia after he is relieved from [training](/usc/5/4101.md?p=4) and [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) in the armed forces or discharged from hospitalization following that [training](/usc/5/4101.md?p=4) and [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26).


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 92–392, § 1(a), Aug. 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 568.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those comprising subsec. (a) of this section were contained in Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 471 (formerly classified to section 5343 of this title) prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by section 1(a) of Pub. L. 92–392.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective on first day of first applicable pay period beginning on or after 90th day after Aug. 19, 1972, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 92–392, set out as a note under section 5341 of this title.