# 5 C.F.R. § 534.504 (2026): Pay range

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_504

## Section

- **Citation:** 5 C.F.R. § 534.504 (2026)
- **Heading:** Pay range
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 5 CFR: Administrative Personnel / Chapter I: OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT / Part 534: PAY UNDER OTHER SYSTEMS / Subpart E: Pay for Senior-Level and Scientific or Professional Positions / § 534.504: § 534.504   Pay range.

## Text

(a) A rate of basic pay under this subpart must be—
(1) Not less than 120 percent of the minimum rate of basic pay payable for GS-15 of the General Schedule, and
(2) Not greater than—
(i) The rate of basic pay payable for level III of the Executive Schedule (EX-III), or
(ii) In the case of an SL or ST employee who is covered by a certified performance appraisal system or whose established rate of basic pay is preserved under § 534.509, the rate of basic pay payable for level II of the Executive Schedule (EX-II).
(b) An agency may not set or adjust the rate of basic pay for an SL or ST employee higher than the maximum in—
(1) Paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section (
i.e.
, EX-III) when the SL or ST employee is covered by a performance appraisal system that is not certified or when the SL or ST employee is not subject to a performance appraisal system, except as provided in § 534.509; or
(2) Paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section (
i.e.
, EX-II) when the SL or ST employee is covered by a certified performance appraisal system.

## Nearby sections

- [5 C.F.R. § 534.501 (2026) § 534.501   Purpose.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_501.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.502 (2026) § 534.502   Coverage.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_502.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.503 (2026) § 534.503   Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_503.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.504 (2026) § 534.504   Pay range.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_504.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.505 (2026) § 534.505   Written procedures.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_505.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.506 (2026) § 534.506   Setting a rate of basic pay upon appointment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_506.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.507 (2026) § 534.507   Annual increases in basic pay.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_507.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.508 (2026) § 534.508   Reductions in a rate of basic pay.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_508.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.509 (2026) § 534.509   Preservation of an established rate of basic pay.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_509.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.510 (2026) § 534.510   Off-cycle pay increases.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_510.md)
- [5 C.F.R. § 534.511 (2026) § 534.511   Exemption from performance appraisal requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_511.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T5_P534_S534_504. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.