(1) 在同一地区,一定要毫不折扣地体现同工同酬(There be equal pay for substantially equal work within each local pay area);
(2) 在同一地区,工资等级差别取决于岗位性质和工作表现(Within each local pay area, pay distinctions be maintained in keeping with work and performance distinctions);
(3) 联邦government公务员必须与同一地区私营企业同等工作性质的职工工资标准一致(Federal pay rates be comparable with non-Federal pay rates for the same levels of work within the same local pay area);
(4) 必须彻底消除任何联邦government公务员与私营企业职工工资不平等的现象(Any existing pay disparities between Federal and non-Federal employees should be completely eliminated)。
由于通货膨胀,公务员工资每年有个年度微调(Annual adjustments to pay schedules),微调标准必须依据劳工部公布的私企工资成本指数(ECI),但公务员工资调整幅度必须低于工资成本指数0.5个百分点。法律还特别规定,只有总统有权动议调整公务员工资标准,但必须报国会批准。调整工资标准的前提是:发生全国性突发事件或严重经济情况而影响普遍生活水准。
美国法律还规定了公务员工资封顶制度(Aggregate Limitation on Pay),普通公务员不管何种理由所有项目工资之和超过高I级工资标准,该工资不得支付。