Arkansas state government salary
Contents |
 |
| National Taxpayers Union |
| Action center |
This page describes the compensation, salaries, and benefits that Arkansas's public employees receive from state and local government.
[edit] Legislators' salary
Arkansas state legislators earn $15,000/year.[1] Legislators also receive a per diem of $136 per day plus mileage tied to federal rate.[1]
[edit] Elected officials' salaries
| Office | '10 Salary | Current Official |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | $87,352 | Mike Beebe |
| Lieutenant Governor | $42,219 | Mark Darr |
| Secretary of State | $54,594 | Mark Martin |
| Attorney General | $72,794 | Dustin McDaniel |
| Auditor | $54,594 | Charlie Daniels |
| Land Commissioner | $54,594 | John Thurston |
| Treasurer | $54,594 | Martha Shoffner |
The salary of Arkansas' governor ranks 49th 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]
[edit] Judicial salaries
| Position | '09 Salary | Current Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice | $151,049 | Jim Hannah |
| Associate Justice | $139,821 | Robert Brown |
| Associate Justice | $139,821 | Donald Corbin |
| Associate Justice | $139,821 | Annabelle Clinton Imber |
| Associate Justice | $139,821 | Jim Gunter |
| Associate Justice | $139,821 | Paul Danielson |
| Associate Justice | $139,821 | Karen Baker |
The salary of Arkansas' chief justice ranks 27th 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.[4]
The salary of Arkansas' associate justices ranks 32nd 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.[4]
[edit] State and local employees
Gov. Beebe announced Dec. 2, 2010, that he would reinstate cost-of-living raises for state employees.[5] The move will cost the state approximately $18 million per year, which the governor said was justified based on state general revenue collections report for November 2010.[5] That report showed gross general revenue down 13.6% for November compared with November 2009 and 1.2% below the department’s predictions but positive for the first five months of the fiscal year.[5]
According to 2008 Census data, the state of Arkansas and local governments in the state employed a total of 190,155 people.[6] Of those employees, 155,216 were full-time employees receiving a net pay of $478,078,745 per month and 34,939 were part-time employees paid $24,804,627 per month.[6] More than 40% of those employees, or 32,278 employees, were in education or higher education.[6]
The total number of employees in 2008 was up from 2007; according to 2007 Census data, the state of Arkansas had 187,503 total employees.[7]
[edit] Teacher Salaries
Through collective bargaining the Arkansas Education Association were successful in securing a minimum salary schedule for teachers. [8] Teacher salary reports can be found here.
| Beginning Teacher Salary | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| $30,525 | $47,472 |
Information on how school districts are funded can be found here.
Arkansas educators are eligible to participate in the Arkansas Teachers Retirement System.
[edit] Benefits
[edit] Insurance
Employees have a choice of health insurance between a PPO plan and the other a plan similar to a POS.[10] Under the PPO, employees have the option of opening a Health Savings Account (HSA), which allows employees to make pre-tax contributions to the HSA, earn interest, and make withdrawals for health-related expenses.[10] Both plans offer access to ARWellness, which provides programs for weight loss, smoking cessation, stress relief and back care.[10]
Employees have the option to purchase dental and vision coverage.[10] Many supplemental insurance products covering various diseases and conditions are available.[10] Retirees are offered health insurance through ARHealth Retiree.[10]
State employees are provided a $10,000 Basic Life and AD&D policy at no charge; active legislators and constitutional officers may increase this Basic coverage by purchasing an additional $30,000 with those premiums paid by the individual.[10] Other insurance available to employees includes additional life, disability and long term care. Moreover, property and casualty insurance plans are available for employees to take advantage of group discounts and payroll deductions.[10]
The Employee Benefits explanation states that "Employees can also choose a variety of plans dealing with planning for a financially sound future or for protecting you from legal problems such as law suits and identity theft."[10]
[edit] Other benefits
StarEAP, an employee assistance program, provides professional assistance with personal, work-related, or emotional issues.[10]
The Arkansas Diamond Deferred Compensation Plan (457 b) is a voluntary retirement savings plan that allows payroll deduction contributions with pre-tax dollars.[10]
The Arkansas Cafeteria Plan (ARCAP) is another option for employees through which employees can pay for state employee group health and life insurance premiums, dependent care expenses tax-free.[10]
[edit] Paid days off
State employees receive the following ten paid holidays[11]:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King, Jr. / Robert E. Lee Birthdays
- George Washington / Daisy Gatson Bates Birthdays
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veteran's Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
Employees are also given one paid holiday to observe his/her birthday.[12]
[edit] Pension
[edit] Additional reading
- Public employee salary
- See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
[edit] External links
- Arkansas state government employment opportunities
- Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Personnel Management
- Database of Arkansas government employees paid more than $200,000 in 2007
- 2008 salary survey of county employees in Arkansas
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Conference of State Legislators 2010 Legislator Compensation Data
- ↑ The Council of States Governments The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11
- ↑ ‘‘The Council of State Governments,’’ “The Book of the States: 2008”
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 The National Center for State Courts, "Judicial Salary Resource Center" as of Jan. 1, 2010
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Arkansas Democrat Gazette "Beebe revives state workers’ cost-of-living raises:" Dec. 3, 2010
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 2008 Arkansas Public Employment U.S. Census Data
- ↑ 2007 Public Employment Data
- ↑ AEA, About AEA
- ↑ [2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z%20TO%202012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 10.11 Annual Benefits Guide 2010 for Arkansas State Employees
- ↑ Arkansas State Holidays
- ↑ Arkansas Code 1-5-101
| |||||||
