Senior executives earned higher raises and bonuses last year than they did the previous year under the government's performance pay system, according to a new report from the Office of Personnel Management.

Members of the Senior Executive Service received an average pay raise of 3.7 percent, or $5,827, in fiscal 2008. That's more than the average 3.6 percent, or $5,475, raise SES members received the previous year.

Also, more career SES members received one-time bonuses — and those bonuses were higher. In 2008, 76.0 percent of career SES members received awards averaging $14,831. In 2007, 74.5 percent of career SES members received awards averaging $14,221. The report did not list bonus data for non-career executives.

More executives received the highest performance rating level in 2008 — 48.2 percent, compared with 47.0 percent in 2007. When all SES members are included, 49.9 percent received the highest rating in 2008, compared with 48.2 percent a year earlier.

OPM released its "Report on Senior Executive Pay and Performance Appraisal System for Fiscal Year 2008" on Sept. 28.

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