---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5505"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5505"
heading: "Monthly pay periods; computation of pay"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5505"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 55 — Pay Administration"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §5505. Monthly pay periods; computation of pay


The [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) period for an individual in the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) of the [United States](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-18) whose [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) is monthly or annual covers one calendar month, and the following rules for division of time and computation of [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) for [services](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26) performed govern:

- (1) A month’s [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) is one-twelfth of a year’s [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4).
- (2) A day’s [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) is one-thirtieth of a month’s [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4).
- (3) The 31st day of a calendar month is ignored in computing [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4), except that one day’s [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) is forfeited for one day’s unauthorized absence on the 31st day of a calendar month.
- (4) For each day of the month elapsing before entering the [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), one day’s [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) is deducted from the first month’s [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) of the individual.

This section does not apply to an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) whose [pay](/usc/5/7511.md?p=a-4) is computed under [section 5504(b) of this title](/usc/5/5504.md?p=b).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 476.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 84. | June 30, 1906, ch. 3914, § 6, 34 Stat. 763.<br>June 30, 1945, ch. 212, § 604(c) (2d sentence), 59 Stat. 303. |

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.