(a) Except as provided in § 575.104, an Executive agency may pay a recruitment incentive to an employee appointed or placed in the following categories of positions:

(1) A General Schedule position paid under 5 U.S.C. 5332 or 5305 (or similar special rate authority);

(2) A senior-level or scientific or professional position paid under 5 U.S.C. 5376;

(3) A Senior Executive Service position paid under 5 U.S.C. 5383 or a Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration Senior Executive Service position paid under 5 U.S.C. 3151;

(4) A position as a law enforcement officer, as defined in 5 CFR 550.103;

(5) A position under the Executive Schedule paid under 5 U.S.C. 5311-5317 or a position the rate of pay for which is fixed by law at a rate equal to a rate for the Executive Schedule;

(6) A prevailing rate position, as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5342(a)(3); or

(7) Any other position in a category for which payment of recruitment incentives has been approved by OPM at the request of the head of an executive agency.

(b) Except as provided in § 575.104, a legislative agency may pay a recruitment incentive to an employee appointed or placed in a General Schedule position paid under 5 U.S.C. 5332 or 5305 (or similar special rate authority).