5 USC § 5505 - Monthly pay periods; computation of pay

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t5/s5505"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "5 USC § 5505 - Monthly pay periods; computation of pay"
title_number: 5
title_name: "GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND EMPLOYEES"
section_number: "5505"
section_name: "Monthly pay periods; computation of pay"
chapter_number: 55
chapter_name: "PAY ADMINISTRATION"
subchapter_number: "I"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "EMPLOYEES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 476.)"
---


# § 5505. Monthly pay periods; computation of pay

The pay period for an individual in the service of the United States whose pay is monthly or annual covers one calendar month, and the following rules for division of time and computation of pay for services performed govern:

**(1)** A month’s pay is one-twelfth of a year’s pay.

**(2)** A day’s pay is one-thirtieth of a month’s pay.

**(3)** The 31st day of a calendar month is ignored in computing pay, except that one day’s pay is forfeited for one day’s unauthorized absence on the 31st day of a calendar month.

**(4)** For each day of the month elapsing before entering the service, one day’s pay is deducted from the first month’s pay of the individual.

This section does not apply to an employee whose pay is computed under section 5504(b) of this title.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 476.)

| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes andStatutes at Large |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 84. | June 30, 1906, ch. 3914, § 6, 34 Stat. 763.June 30, 1945, ch. 212, § 604(c) (2d sentence), 59 Stat. 303. |

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.