§7404. Grades and pay scales

(a) The annual rates or ranges of rates of basic pay for positions provided in section 7306 of this title shall be prescribed from time to time by Executive order as authorized by chapter 53 of title 5 or as otherwise authorized by law. The pay of physicians and dentists serving in positions to which an Executive order applies under the preceding sentence shall be determined under subchapter III of this chapter instead of such Executive order.

(b) The grades for positions provided for in paragraph (1) of section 7401 of this title shall be as follows. The annual ranges of rates of basic pay for those grades shall be prescribed from time to time by Executive order as authorized by chapter 53 of title 5 or as otherwise authorized by law:

physician and dentist schedule

Physician grade.

Dentist grade.

nurse schedule

Nurse V.

Nurse IV.

Nurse III.

Nurse II.

Nurse I.

clinical podiatrist, chiropractor, and optometrist schedule

Chief grade.

Senior grade.

Intermediate grade.

Full grade.

Associate grade.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 7425(a) of this title, a person appointed under section 7306 of this title who is not eligible for pay under subchapter III shall be deemed to be a career appointee for the purposes of sections 4507 and 5384 of title 5.

(d) Except as provided under subsection (e), subchapter III, and section 7457 of this title, pay for positions for which basic pay is paid under this section may not be paid at a rate in excess of the rate of basic pay authorized by section 5316 of title 5 for positions in Level V of the Executive Schedule.

(e) The position of Chief Nursing Officer, Office of Nursing Services, shall be exempt from the provisions of section 7451 of this title and shall be paid at a rate determined by the Secretary, not to exceed the maximum rate established for the Senior Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5.

(Added Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, §401(b)(2), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 225 ; amended Pub. L. 102–405, title II, §206, title III, §302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1984 ; Pub. L. 102–585, title III, §301(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4951 ; Pub. L. 108–170, title III, §302(d), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2058 ; Pub. L. 108–445, §3(a), (f), Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2636 , 2643; Pub. L. 109–461, title II, §202, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3410 .)

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in section 4107(a)–(d) of this title prior to the repeal of that section as part of the complete revision of chapter 73 of this title by Pub. L. 102–40.

Amendments

2006-Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–461, §202(1), substituted "subsection (e), subchapter III, and" for "subchapter III and in".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–461, §202(2), added subsec. (e).

2004-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–445, §3(a)(2), inserted at end "The pay of physicians and dentists serving in positions to which an Executive order applies under the preceding sentence shall be determined under subchapter III of this chapter instead of such Executive order."

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 108–445, §3(a)(1), struck out "(1)" after "(b)", inserted items relating to Physician grade and Dentist grade under heading "physician and dentist schedule" and struck out former items under that heading, which read "Director grade", "Executive grade", "Chief grade", "Senior grade", "Intermediate grade", "Full grade", and "Associate grade", and struck out par. (2). Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: "A person may not hold the director grade in the Physician and Dentist Schedule unless the person is serving as a director of a hospital, domiciliary, center, or outpatient clinic (independent), or comparable position. A person may not hold the executive grade in that Schedule unless the person holds the position of chief of staff at a hospital, center, or outpatient clinic (independent), or comparable position."

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–445, §3(f)(1), substituted "pay" for "special pay".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 108–445, §3(f)(2), substituted "pay for positions for which basic pay is paid under this section may not be paid at a rate in excess of the rate of basic pay authorized by section 5316 of title 5 for positions in Level V of the Executive Schedule." for "pay may not be paid at a rate in excess of the rate of basic pay for an appropriate level authorized by section 5315 or 5316 of title 5 for positions in the Executive Schedule, as follows:

"(1) Level IV for the Deputy Under Secretary for Health.

"(2) Level V for all other positions for which such basic pay is paid under this section."

2003-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 108–170 substituted "clinical podiatrist, chiropractor, and optometrist schedule" for "clinical podiatrist and optometrist schedule" as third center heading in table.

1992-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 102–585 inserted items relating to Nurse V through I under heading "nurse schedule" and struck out former items under that heading, "Director grade", "Senior grade", "Intermediate grade", and "Entry grade".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 102–405, §206, inserted ", or comparable position" before period at end of first sentence.

Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 102–405, §302(c)(1), substituted "Under Secretary for Health" for "Chief Medical Director".

Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 108–170 effective at end of 180-day period beginning on Dec. 6, 2003, see section 302(h) of Pub. L. 108–170, set out as a note under section 7316 of this title.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Section 308 of Pub. L. 102–585 provided that: "The amendments made by sections 301, 302, 303, and 304 [amending this section and sections 7451 and 7452 of this title] shall take effect with respect to the first pay period beginning on or after the end of the six-month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 4, 1992]."

Adjustment of Pay Rates

For adjustment of pay rates under this section, see the executive order detailing the adjustment of certain rates of pay set out as a note under section 5332 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Executive Order No. 12438

Ex. Ord. No. 12438, Aug. 23, 1983, 48 F.R. 39205, which related to review of increases in rates of basic pay for employees of the Veterans' Administration, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12797, Apr. 3, 1992, 57 F.R. 11671, set out as a note under section 7455 of this title.