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2021 federal civilian pay rates for unemployment calculations
Summary ETA directed state unemployment agencies to the 2021 federal civilian pay schedules. When a federal agency did not respond promptly, states could use those salary rates with other records to estimate benefit entitlement or potentially disqualifying pay. The cited rates apply to 2021.
Document
Federal guidance
Agency
U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA)
Document number
UIPL No. 11-21
Date issued
January 7, 2021
Status
Active
ETA’s listing marks this letter Active, and the PDF prints “Rescissions: None” and “Expiration Date: Continuing.” It points to federal salary rates for 2021.
Status last verified October 24, 2026
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About this page: The full text below is the official document from U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (ETA). Ezel adds the plain-English summary and tracks the document's status. The official source linked on this page is authoritative for any reliance.
CLASSIFICATION
EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION Unemployment Insurance
ADVISORY SYSTEM CORRESPONDENCE SYMBOL
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OUI/DUIO
Washington, D.C. 20210 DATE
January 7, 2021
ADVISORY: UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAM LETTER NO. 11-21
TO: STATE WORKFORCE AGENCIES
FROM: JOHN PALLASCH
Assistant Secretary
SUBJECT: 2021 Pay Adjustments for Annual Salary Rates for General Schedule (GS)
Federal Employees in 53 Locality Pay Areas.
1. Purpose. To ensure states are aware of the locality-based salary rates for certain Federal
civilian employees.
2. Action Requested. State Administrators should provide information contained in this
Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL) to appropriate staff.
3. Summary and Background.
a. Summary - This UIPL provides a link to the 2021 pay adjustments for annual salary rates
for GS Federal employees, which may assist states with estimating monetary entitlement
for unemployment benefits or determining the amount of potentially disqualifying
remuneration.
b. Background - On December 31, 2020, the President signed Executive Order, Adjustments
of Certain Rates of Pay, stipulating the 2021 pay rates for the Federal civilian employee
pay schedules. The 2021 pay rates are effective on the first day of the first applicable pay
period beginning on or after January 1, 2021.
Information about the 2021 Annual Salary Rates is located on the U.S. Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) website at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-
oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/#url=2021.
4. Instructions. States may use GS salary rates on the OPM website, in conjunction with other
appropriate documentation, for estimating monetary entitlement for unemployment benefits
or in determining the amount of potentially disqualifying remuneration when Federal
agencies do not provide timely responses to requests for information.
5. Inquiries. Please direct all inquiries to the appropriate Regional Office.
RESCISSIONS EXPIRATION DATE
None Continuing
6. References. Chapters V and XI, Employment and Training Handbook No. 391,
Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE) Instructions for State
Agencies.
7. Attachment. Not Applicable.
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