(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) 联邦政府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政府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。