Regulations last checked for updates: May 18, 2024

Title 5 - Administrative Personnel last revised: May 15, 2024
§ 534.203 - Maximum stipends.

(a) Except as authorized under paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, stipends are to be set by the agency, subject to the maximum stipends prescribed in the following table:

Maximum Stipends Prescribed

Code symbol Academic level of approved training program Maximums by grade and step 1
L-ABelow high school graduationGS-1-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-1First year college undergraduateGS-2-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-2Second year college undergraduateGS-3-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-3Third year college undergraduateGS-3-3 (minus 3 steps).
L-4Fourth year college undergraduateGS-4-2 (minus 3 steps).
L-5First year postgraduate predoctoralGS-5-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-6Second year postgraduate predoctoralGS-7-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-6Third year medical schoolGS-7-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-7Third year postgraduate predoctoralGS-9-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-7Fourth year medical schoolGS-9-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-8Fourth year postgraduate predoctoralGS-10-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-8Medical or dental internshipGS-10-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-9Fifth year postgraduate w/o doctorateGS-11-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-9First year postgraduate (Ph. D.)GS-11-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-9First year medical or dental residencyGS-11-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-10Second year postdoctoral (Ph. D.)GS-12-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-10Second year medical or dental residencyGS-12-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-11Third year medical or dental residencyGS-12-4 (minus 3 steps).
L-12Fourth year medical or dental residencyGS-13-1 (minus 3 steps).
L-13Fifth year medical residencyGS-14-1 (minus 3 steps).

1 The maximum money amount in each case is derived by subtracting from the statutory salary for the appropriate grade a sum equivalent to three step increments of that grade. This amount includes overtime pay, maintenance allowances, and other payments in money or kind.

(b) An agency may pay a student-employee a stipend in excess of the amount prescribed under paragraph (a) of this section only if the Office of Personnel Management has determined that a higher maximum stipend is warranted for the student-employee.

(c) Maximum stipends for positions in the Public Health Service in which duty requires intimate contact with persons afflicted with leprosy are increased above the rates prescribed in paragraph (a) of this section to the same extent that additional pay is provided by Public Health Service Regulations (42 CFR 22.1) for employees subject to the General Schedule (part 531 of this chapter).

(d) Overtime pay, maintenance allowances, and other payments in money or kind for a student-employee must be considered as part of the student-employee's stipend for the purposes of this section, and therefore, may not be used to cause the stipend to exceed the maximum stipend established under this section.

(e) A trainee at a non-Federal hospital, clinic, or medical or dental laboratory who is assigned to a Federal hospital, clinic, or medical or dental laboratory as an affiliate for a part of his or her training may not receive a stipend from the Federal agency other than any maintenance allowance that is provided.

authority: 5 U.S.C. 1104,3161,5307,5351,5352,5353,5376,5382,5383,5384,5385,5541,5550a,sec. 1125 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2004, Pub. L. 108-136, 117 Stat. 1638 (5 U.S.C. 5304,5382,5383,7302; 18 U.S.C. 207); and sec. 2 of Pub. L. 110-372, 122 Stat. 4043 (5 U.S.C. 5304,5307,5376
cite as: 5 CFR 534.203