So what is Joe Biden's "pay-grade"?

Last week Vice President Joe Biden used an old favorite phrase of his, "that's way above my pay grade", as part of a response to a health care policy question. Now that he is a heartbeat away from the chief executive officer of the most powerful country in the world he should retire that phrase. It makes no sense and begs the question of who all these superiors are at various levels above him. The phrase itself is about decision making responsibility and influence, not money. I have always liked Joe and still do. I like the fact that he continues to be himself in this ultra-controlled administration. But if he continues referring to his lowly pay grade it will bug me to no end- like Bush's persistent and stubborn mispronunciation of Nuclear.