Table of Contents
What is the 2 step promotion?
The two-step promotion rule states that a GS employee promoted to a position in a higher grade is entitled to basic pay at the lowest rate of the higher grade that exceeds his or her existing rate of basic pay by not less than two step increases of the grade from which promoted.
What is the GS two step promotion rule?
Under the two-step promotion rule, a GS employee who is being promoted from one grade on the General Schedule to a higher grade on the General Schedule is entitled to the lowest rate of the higher grade which exceeds his or her “existing rate” by not less than two step increases of the grade from which promoted or …
What is a step advancement?

Within-grade increases (WGIs) or step increases are periodic increases in a GS employee’s rate of basic pay from one step of the grade of his or her position to the next higher step of that grade.
Can a GS 5 apply for a GS-7?
Yes you can apply for a GS-7 after one year as a GS-5.
Are GS step increases automatic?
In the GS Pay System, Step is related to how long you have worked for the federal government. This is often called “Time-in-Service.” Step increases are automatically given to employees when the meet the time-in-service requirement.

How do step increases work?
Within-grade step increases are based on an acceptable level of performance and longevity (waiting periods of 1 year at steps 1-3, 2 years at steps 4-6, and 3 years at steps 7-9). It normally takes 18 years to advance from step 1 to step 10 within a single GS grade if an employee remains in that single grade.
How long does it take to go from GS 11 to GS 12?
GS Levels by Education
GS-1 | No high school diploma |
---|---|
GS-9 (GS-11 for some research positions) | Master’s degree or 2 years of full-time graduate study |
GS-9 | Law degree (J.D. or LL.B.) |
GS-11 (GS-12 for some research positions) | Ph.D. or equivalent doctorate or advanced law degree (LL.M.) |
How often do GS step increases occur?
How often do you get step increases?
Are step increases automatic?
The Office of Personnel Management is reminding federal agencies that within-grade pay raises, often called step increases, must be based on an employee’s performance and should not be automatic.