The Federal Salary Council (FSC) is an advisory body of the executive branch of the United States Government. The FSC was established under the provisions of the Section 5304(e)(1) of Title 5 of the United States Code, to provide recommendations on the locality pay program created by the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990. The locality pay program provides for localized pay differentials (also known as comparability payments) for Federal employees paid under the General Schedule (GS) who work in the 48 continental United States (CONUS).
By law, the President of the United States appoints the members of the FSC, which include three experts in labor relations and pay policy and six representatives of Federal labor unions and other employee organizations representing large numbers of GS employees. The FSC submits recommendations on the locality pay program to the President's Pay Agent. The FSC's recommendations cover the establishment or modification of pay localities, the coverage of salary surveys (conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) used to set locality pay, the process for making pay comparisons, and the level of comparability payments that should be made. The FSC's recommendations are advisory only and are not binding on the President. The President's Pay Agent makes the final determination as to the establishment or disestablishment of locality pay areas and also makes the final recommendation to the President regarding the amount of the annual Federal pay increase (if any).
Under Executive Order 12764 of 5 June 1991, the United States Office of Personnel Management provides administrative support for the FSC.
On November 9, 2010, President Barack Obama appointed or reappointed seven members to the Federal Salary Council. Stephen E. Condrey as chairman and Lou Cannon, Jeffrey David Cox, Rex L. Facer, Bill Fenaughty, Colleen Kelley, Jacqueline Simon. Condrey is senior associate and director of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government's human resource management assistance program and adjunct professor of public administration in the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs.