5 CFR §550.185
Verified against eCFR.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on eCFR.gov ↗
- (a)Availability pay is paid only for periods of time during which a criminal investigator receives basic pay. Availability pay is an amount equal to the lesser of—(1) 25 percent of a criminal investigator's rate of basic pay, as defined in § 550.103, including amounts designated as “salary” for special agents in the Diplomatic Security Service; or
- (2)The maximum amount that may be paid to avoid exceeding the maximum earnings limitation on premium pay for law enforcement officers in 5 U.S.C. 5547(c).
- (b)Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, a criminal investigator who is eligible for availability pay shall continue to receive such pay during any period such investigator is attending agency-sanctioned training, on agency-ordered travel status, on agency-approved leave with pay, or on excused absence with pay for relocation purposes.
- (c)Agencies may, at their discretion, provide availability pay to criminal investigators during training that is considered initial, basic training usually provided in the first year of service.
- (d)Agencies may, at their discretion, provide for the continuation of availability pay when a criminal investigator is on excused absence with pay, except where payment is mandatory under paragraph (b) of this section.
- (e)The amount of availability pay payable to a criminal investigator for a pay period is not affected by the occurrence of a paid holiday during that period.