A QSI has the effect of moving an employee through the GS pay range faster than by periodic step increases alone. Fact Sheet: Within-Grade Increases Description. Fact sheet available at http://www.opm.gov/oca/pay/html/wgifact.asp. Eligibility. (b) Waiting periods for within-grade increases shall begin: (1) On the first day of a new appointment as an employee subject to this part; (2) On the first day of a period of service after a break in service or time in a nonppay status in excess of 52 weeks; or (3) On receipt of an equivalent increase… A QSI does not affect the timing of an employee's next regular WGI unless the QSI places the employee in step 4 or step 7 of his or her grade. A quality step increase (QSI) is an additional within-grade increase (WGI) used to recognize and reward General Schedule (GS) employees at any grade level who display outstanding performance. General schedule employees in permanent positions (including those to which the employee has been promoted on a … A WGI waiting period begins upon (1) first appointment in the Federal service, (2) receiving an "equivalent increase," or (3) after a period of nonpay status and/or a break in service in excess of 52 calendar weeks. Within-grade increases (WGIs) or step increases are periodic increases in a GS employee's rate of basic pay from one step of the grade of his or her position to the next higher step of that grade. Within Grade Increases and Who Gets Them.

Each General Schedule (GS) grade has 10 steps.