18 U.S.C. § 207; 28 U.S.C. § 546; 28 U.S.C. § 548

This Title contains information on salaries paid to United States Attorneys (USAs) and Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs).

1. A. USAs:
   1. 1. General. The salaries of USAs are set by the Attorney General (AG) or Deputy Attorney General pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 548.
   2. 2. AG-Appointed and Court-Appointed USAs. An individual appointed as USA by the AG or the district court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, shall be paid the full salary of the USA position, effective as of the date of appointment, unless they elect a salary at a rate less than 86.5 percent of the rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive Schedule.
2. B. AUSAs:
   1. 1. AUSAs. AUSA salaries are set in accordance with an Administratively Determined pay plan approved by the AG or DAG pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 548.
   2. 2. Supervisory and SLC AUSAs. Supervisory and SLC AUSAs occupy their positions via temporary promotions not-to-exceed four years or less, and are subject to subsequent assignment to lower-level supervisory or SLC AUSA positions or to line AUSA positions at any time. Upon such “reassignment,” the AUSA’s grade is reduced and salary set within the new pay grade.
3. C. Senior Litigation Counsel. The Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC) program was created for the express purpose of recognizing truly outstanding non-supervisory Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) based on their overall careers as litigators. To qualify, an AUSA must meet the following criteria:
   1. 1. Have at least five years experience as an attorney, the major portion of such experience having been as an active litigator in the Federal court system;
   2. 2. When nominated, be at a salary at least equivalent to GS-15, step 1;
   3. 3. Be recognized as an outstanding litigator in the Federal court system as demonstrated by awards, letters of commendation, press coverage, or other material attesting to the success and quality of the attorney's advocacy skills;
   4. 4. Be responsible for the in-office training of Assistants less knowledgeable in advocacy skills;
   5. 5. Not supervise any AUSAs; and
   6. 6. Have the stated intention of remaining with the Department of Justice for at least one year after designation, and be available, when it will not interfere with assigned caseload, to serve as a rotating faculty member at the National Advocacy Center (NAC).

[updated February 2018]