---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 5505"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "5505"
heading: "Monthly pay periods; computation of pay"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/5505"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart D — Pay and Allowances"
  - "Chapter 55 — Pay Administration"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §5505. Monthly pay periods; computation of pay


The pay period for an individual in the [service](/usc/5/8331.md?p=12) 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](/usc/5/8331.md?p=12) 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](/usc/5/8331.md?p=12), one day’s pay is deducted from the first month’s pay of the individual.

This section does not apply to an [employee](/usc/5/5361.md?p=1) whose pay is computed under [section 5504(b) of this title](/usc/5/5504.md?p=b).


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 476.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 84. | June 30, 1906, ch. 3914, § 6, 34 Stat. 763.<br>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.