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Here in Kentucky we also are considered to be "Rest of US" as far as locality is concerned. The 3.1% is better than a sharp stick in the eye. Many complain just to hear themselves make noise.

As far as taking 18 years to reach a step 10, yes that is true for the original grade you are hired in. As a case in point, if you start as a step one, you will receive automatic step increases every year, then every two years and then every three years as you progress. Then when you are promoted, you go to a step that is equal to or the next greater of a two step increase for the grade you are in. My only promotion in civili service resulted in going from a step six to a step two. Not it was like a one year jump start in starting over. One benefit was the next step increases came faster again.

The step increases are: (1 year) 1 to 2, 2 to 3 and 3 to 4; (2 years) 4 to 5, 5 to 6 and 6 to 7; (3 years) 7 to 8, 8 to 9 and 9 to 10.

PhiKapMom - you were correct in using GS-12 as an average. I read somewhere that GS-12 is the most populous grade, followed by GS-11 then GS-5 or 6, I don't remember which.

Also many people outside of government do not realize the USPS is on a different pay scale than the rest of the government, or that blue collar workers are on another scale and that the Senior Executive Service is on still another scale and that lower level (GS-3 to GS-10) law enforcement officers are on still another. There are also different scales for dentists and physicians that work for the VA, for the foreign service (state department) employess and for the Executive Schedule which are cabinet officers, deputy secretaries and other appointed officials.

Confused? Even those of us in the "system" are confused.

Where in KY?? I was a Jersey kid who attended U of L on the USMC nickel, later returned for Tank School at Fort Knox in '77. This Post is late...we're 14 hours ahead here in Japan. Here we get the General Schedule, it's 8% behind the Rest Of The US. See my last Post for details. The "Big Lie" here is that "BUSH" cut our raise. We got what was programmed. The House added 1%, but the Senate failed to pass the bill. At least we're getting it across the board!!

That was very well stated. The only one I was completely sure of was Civil Service GS grades because there are too many other types of pay grades to get involved in explaining.

Postal Service employees also don't pay as much out of pocket for their health care either as regular Civil Service does.