National Compensation Survey

OMB Control No: 1220-0164	ICR Reference No: 202506-1220-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202310-1220-004
Agency/Subagency: DOL/BLS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: National Compensation Survey
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 02/09/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2027
Responses	54,340	53,896
Time Burden (Hours)	38,398	41,465
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: Under the National Compensation Survey (NCS), the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently uses the Employment Cost Index (ECI) and Occupational Employment Statistics (OEWS) to provide grade and local wage data required by the President's Pay Agent to comply with the requirements of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA). The President's Pay Agent uses these data to recommend pay increases for Federal General Schedule workers; NCS data produces the Employment Cost Index which is designated a Principal Federal Economic Indicator under OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 3. NCS data is used to produce the ECI, the Employer Cost for Employee Compensation (ECEC) and data for the President's Pay Agent.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 5 USC 5304 Name of Law: Locality-based comparability payments    US Code: 5 USC 5318 Name of Law: Adjustments in rates of pay    US Code: 2 USC 4501 Name of Law: Compensation of Members of Congress    US Code: 29 USC 2b Name of Law: Collection, Collation, and Reports of Labor Statistics    US Code: 5 USC 5303 Name of Law: Annual adjustments to pay schedules

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 32029	07/16/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	91 FR 4956	02/03/2026
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title Form No. Form Name National Compensation Survey (Private Industry Sample) Wage and benefit Update , NCS BC 26-1, NCS EQ 26-1, NCS EU 2601, NCS BU 26-1, IDCF Establishment and Quote Checklist ,   Earnings Update Form (Wage Shuttle) ,   Benefits Checklist ,   Benefits Summary ,   Web-lite Update Form ,   Wage and benefit Update National Compensation Survey (State and local government sample) NCS BU 26-1, IDCF/Web-Lite, Wage and Benefit Update, NCS EQ 26-1, NCS EU 26-1, NCS BC 26-1 Establishment and Quote Form ,   Earnings Update Form (Wage Shuttle) ,   Benefits Checklist Form ,   Benefits Update Form (Benefits Summary) ,   Weblite Update Form ,   Wage and Benefit Update Form

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	54,340	53,896	0	444	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	38,398	41,465	0	-3,067	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: The total burden hour decrease is due to a combination of the elimination of certain data elements and adjustments to response rates to take into consideration declining response rates in both collection initiations and updates.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $59,000,000

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Yes

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Jennifer Coleman 202 691-7128

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 02/09/2026

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