North Carolina state government salary
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This page describes the compensation, salaries, and benefits that North Carolina's public employees receive from state and local government.
Elected official's salaries
| Office | '10 Salary | Current Official |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | $139,590[2] | Pat McCroy |
| Lieutenant Governor | $123,198 | Dan Forest |
| Secretary of State | $123,198 | Elaine Marshall |
| Attorney General | $123,198 | Roy Cooper |
| Treasurer | $123,198 | Janet Cowell |
The salary of North Carolina's governor ranks 20th among U.S. governors' salaries. The average salary earned by U.S. governors is $128,735. The median salary earned by U.S. governors is $129,962. [3]
Legislators' salary
North Carolina state legislators receive an annual salary of $13,951.[4] Legislators receive a per diem of $104 per day set by statute.[4] Legislators are also given a monthly expense allowance of $559.00 per month.[4]
Judicial salaries
| Position | '09 Salary | Current Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice | $140,932 | Sarah Parker |
| Associate Justice | $137,249 | Mark Martin |
| Associate Justice | $137,249 | Robert Edmunds |
| Associate Justice | $137,249 | Barbara Jackson |
| Associate Justice | $137,249 | Paul Martin Newby |
| Associate Justice | $137,249 | Patricia Timmons-Goodson |
| Associate Justice | $137,249 | Robin Hudson |
The salary of North Carolina's chief justice ranks 35th among U.S. chief justices' salaries. The average salary earned by U.S. chief justices is $155,230. The median salary earned by U.S. chief justices is $151,284.[5]
The salary of North Carolina's associate justices ranks 36th among U.S. associate justices' salaries. The average salary earned by U.S. associate justices is $151,142. The median salary earned by U.S. associate justices is $145,984.[5]
Appointed State Department Heads
Lawmakers amended the state budget to give North Carolina’s next governor new power to set salaries for non-elected state department heads. However, no additional funding has been added to make up for any salary increases. Current law caps salary limits for the heads of eight state agencies at $121,807. [6]
State and local employees
According to 2008 Census data, the state of North Carolina and local governments in the state employed a total of 655,598 people.[7] Of those employees, 510,183 were full-time employees receiving a net pay of $1,839,723,835 per month and 145,415 were part-time employees paid $150,416,252 per month.[7] More than 57% of those employees, or 377,690 employees, were in education or higher education.[7] The state employee work force has grown less than 1 percent since July 2008, when there were 92,627 workers at state agencies and universities.[8] As of April 2010, North Carolina employed 93,217 state workers.[8]
State employees have not received a raise since 2008; more than 2,300 state workers, however, pocketed a total of an $8.23 million from April to June 2010 because they were promoted, gained new skills, or took on added duties.[8]
The average state employee salary as of April 2010 was $41,723.[8]
Teacher Salaries
North Carolina, like many other Southern states does not allow for collective bargaining. The state provides funds to county school districts which in turn settles teacher salaries.
| Beginning Teacher Salary | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| $31,892 | $48,648 |
According to state officials, in the 2008-2009 school year the average annual teacher salary was approximately $48,648. Compared to the 2007 average annual salary of $47,633, 2008 saw a $1,015 increase. Compared to the national teacher salary average, North Carolina fell $5,671 below the $54,319 average.[10]
| School year | Avg. teacher salary | US Avg. teacher salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2005-2006[11] | $43,922 | $49,109 |
| 2006-2007[12] | $46,137 | $50,816 |
| 2007-2008[13] | $47,633 | $52,308 |
| 2008-2009[10] | $48,648 | $54,319 |
State employee benefits
Paid time off
Holidays The Office of State Personnel's website says that state employees receive 11 or 12 paid holidays annually as set by the State Personnel Commission.[14]
However, the Commission's website lists only these nine holidays[15]:
- New Year's Day
- Lincoln's Birthday
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans' Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Sick Leave Twelve days yearly of sick leave is provided to permanent, probationary, and trainee employees. Leave is prorated for part-time employees.[14]
Vacation At least 95 hours (11 ¾ days) of vacation leave is provided yearly to permanent, probationary, trainee and provisional employees. As length of service increases, the amount of leave earned increases. Leave is prorated for part-time employees.[14]
Vacation leave[14]
| Years of Service | Leave Granted Monthly |
|---|---|
| Less than 2 years | 7 hrs. 50 mins. |
| 2 but less than 5 | 9 hrs. 10 mins. |
| 5 but less than 10 | 11 hrs. 10 mins. |
| 10 but less than 15 | 13 hrs. 10 mins. |
| 15 but less than 20 | 15 hrs. 10 mins. |
| 20 years or more | 17 hrs. 10 mins. |
Other Leave
- Civil leave is granted to employees serving on a jury or when subpoenaed as a witness.[14]
- Community Service leave: State employees are allowed up to 24 hours per calendar year to volunteer in support of schools, communities, citizens and non-profit organizations. Parents may also use the leave for child involvement. State employees wishing to mentor or tutor a student may receive one hour per week (up to 36 hours) instead of the 24 hours annually. Additional time may be given for Emergency Services, Blood and Bone Marrow Donorship and Disaster Service Volunteer with the American Red Cross.[14]
- Military leave up to a maximum of 120 hours per year.[14]
Retirement
State employees contribute 6% of their salary to the state retirement system.[16] The state also contributes 8.14% of the employee's salary.[17]
The State offers the following tax-deferred programs to provide a way to save money to supplement the state retirement plan[16]:
- 401(k) Deferred Compensation Plan
- 403(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
- 457 - North Carolina Public Employees' Deferred Compensation
In 2010, the state missed its first pension payment in history.[18] Pension assets are down $3.4 billion from the previos year, and $8.3 billion down from 2008.[18]
Insurance
A statewide group plan, which covers hospital and medical expenses, is available to employees at no additional cost. Family and dependent coverage is available at the employee's expense.[19]
Employees are eligible after one year of state service for short term disability; they are eligible for long-term disability after five years of service.[19]
A long-term care plan is optional.[19]
Other benefits
The State Employees' Assistance Program is a confidential, free service of North Carolina State Government to assist employees and their immediate family members with personal problems before they disrupt personal or work life.[19]
NC Flex offers seven voluntary benefits pre-tax to employees working 20 or more hours per week in a permanent, probationary or time-limited position[19]:
- Health Care Flexible Spending Account
- Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account
- Vision Care Plan
- Voluntary Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
- Traditional/Managed Care Dental Coverage
- Cancer Insurance
- Group Term Life
Additional reading
- Public employee salary
- See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
External links
References
- ↑ The Council of States Governments The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11
- ↑ The Council of State Governments The Book of States 2010 Table 4.3
- ↑ ‘‘The Council of State Governments,’’ “The Book of the States: 2008”
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 National Conference of State Legislators 2010 Legislator Compensation Data
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The National Center for State Courts, "Judicial Salary Resource Center" as of Jan. 1, 2010
- ↑ News & Observer, New governor gets to dole out the salary cash to department heads, Aug. 31, 2012
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 2008 Illinois Public Employment U.S. Census Data
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Yahoo! Finance "Thousands of NC workers split $8 million in raises" Sept. 15, 2010
- ↑ [2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z%20TO%202012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 North Carolina Department of Education,"Facts and Figures 2009-2010," retrieved April 30, 2010
- ↑ North Carolina Department of Education,"Facts and Figures 2006-2007," retrieved April 30, 2010
- ↑ North Carolina Department of Education,"Facts and Figures 2007-2008," retrieved April 30, 2010
- ↑ North Carolina Department of Education,"Facts and Figures 2008-2009," retrieved April 30, 2010
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Leave Benefits
- ↑ Holiday Schedule
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Benefits - Retirement
- ↑ State Employee's Retirement Handbook
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Watchdog, Latest data show continuing pension pinch, Aug. 5, 2010
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 Insurance Benefits
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