Biden Officially Proposes an Average 5.2% Pay Increase for Federal Workers and the Military in 2024
President Biden officially proposed a 5.2% average pay raise for both civilian federal employees and military service members next year as part of his fiscal 2024 budget plan released Thursday.
The figure marks an increase over the 4.6% pay hike feds received in 2023, and would be the highest proposed pay hike federal workers have seen since the Carter administration implemented a 9.1% average pay increase in 1980. The budget documents released Thursday do not specify what portion of the raise will be dedicated to across-the-board increases in basic pay, although traditionally presidents have set aside 0.5% of an overall pay raise figure for average boosts in locality pay.
The White House highlighted the pay raise as part of its effort to ensure the federal government is “equitable, effective and accountable” and betters delivers services to the American people by helping agencies compete for talent.
“Federal agencies are focused on attracting more people to federal service over the long term, while also addressing immediate agency hiring needs to rebuild capacity,” administration officials wrote. “[The] budget provides an average pay increase of 5.2% for civilian and military personnel—and answers the president’s call for agencies to lead by example in supporting federal worker organizing and collective bargaining.”