Kansas state government salary
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Government jobs have increased in Kansas by eight percent in the past decade.[1]
According to 2008 Census data, the state of Kansas and local governments in the state employed a total of 241,713 people.[2] Of those employees, 172,212 were full-time employees receiving a net pay of $584,592,296 per month and 69,501 were part-time employees paid $55,185,557 per month.[2] Nearly 60% of those employees, or 144,587 employees, were in education or higher education.[2]
The state itself employed over 23,000 [3] Approximately 11 percent or fewer of Kansas' government workers leave their jobs each year, compared with 18 percent or more in the private sector.[3]
Kanview is by law required to include "salaries and wages including, but not limited to, compensation paid to individual employees of state agencies," but the state has yet to post this information. Kansas residents can call the Kansas Department of Administration and complain about this omission at (785) 296-3011.
[edit] Elected officials salary
| Office | '10 Salary | Current Official |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | 110,707 | Sam Brownback |
| Lieutenant Governor | $100,000 | Jeff Colyer |
| Secretary of State | $86,003 | Kris Kobach |
| Attorney General | $98,901 | Derek Schmidt |
| Treasurer | $82,563 | Ron Estes |
The salary of Kansas' governor ranks 36th 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.[5]
[edit] Legislators' salary
Kansas state legislators make $88.66 per day.[6] Legislators also receive a per diem of $116 per day plus mileage tied to federal rate.[6]
[edit] Judicial salaries
| Position | '09 Salary | Current Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice | $139,310 | Lawton Nuss |
| Associate Justice | $135,905 | Marla Luckert |
| Associate Justice | $135,905 | Carol Beier |
| Associate Justice | $135,905 | Eric Rosen |
| Associate Justice | $135,905 | Lee Johnson |
| Associate Justice | $135,905 | Daniel Biles |
| Associate Justice | $135,905 | Nancy Caplinger-Moritz |
The salary of Kansas' chief justice ranks 37th 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.[7]
The salary of Kansas' associate justices ranks 39th 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.[7]
[edit] Local government employees
- Main article: Kansas local government salary
[edit] Teacher Salaries
The Kansas state constitution requires that the state legislature provide for "intellectual, educational, vocational and scientific improvement by establishing and maintaining public schools, educational institutions."[8]
| Beginning Teacher Salary | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| $31,763 | $46,401 |
[edit] State employee benefits
The state of Kansas provides its employees with many benefits. To qualify for benefits, an employee must be in a permanent position and work more than 1,000 hours per year.[10]
[edit] Paid time off
Vacation The maximum vacation accrual earned each payroll period and the maximum vacation leave balance that may be accumulated are as follows:[10]
| Length of Service | Maximum Biweekly
Vacation Accrual Per Payroll Period | Maximum Accumulation |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 5 years | 3.7 hours | 144 hours |
| 10 years and less than 15 years | 5.6 hours | 208 hours |
| 15 years and over | 6.5 hours | 240 hours |
At the end of the last payroll period paid in each fiscal year, up to 40 hours of any accrued vacation leave that exceeds an employee’s maximum accumulation of hours shall be converted to sick leave, and any time over that is forfeited.[10]
Holidays Holidays for the State service include [10]
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- the Friday following Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Sick Leave Eligible full-time employees’ sick leave accrues at a maximum rate of 3.7 hours per biweekly payroll period. Eligible non-exempt employees are in pay status less than 80 hours in a biweekly payroll period will accrue sick leave based on a prorated schedule.[10]
[edit] Insurance
Health Employees have a 60 day waiting period between first date of employment and when they are eligible for health benefits.[10]
Employees may choose from several medical plans including HMO, PPO and Qualified High Deductible Health Plan options. Enrollment in the Qualified High Deductible Health Plan also requires enrollment in a Health Savings Account (HSA). Prescription drug coverage is provided for all employees/participants enrolled in any State of Kansas medical plan.[10]
For full time employees, the State of Kansas generally contributes 95% of the cost of single Health Plan coverage and 45% of the additional cost for dependent coverage. The amount contributed by the agency for part time employees is generally 75% of the amount contributed for full time employees.[10] Kansas state government employees pay six percent of the cost of their health care versus private sector plans which usually ask employees to cover on average 23 percent of the costs.[11]
Dental Dental coverage is only available for employees/participants enrolled in medical coverage.[10]
Vision Employees may enroll in the vision coverage level of their choice regardless of their medical or dental insurance enrollment.[10]
Life All benefits eligible state employees have group life insurance coverage. The state pays the entire cost of the coverage. The group life insurance coverage provides an insured death benefit, which is currently 150% of the employee's annual rate of compensation.[10] All benefits eligible employees may elect to purchase optional group life insurance coverage through additional payroll deductions.[10]
All benefits eligible state employees have long-term disability insurance coverage paid for fully by the state.[10]
[edit] Retirement
Following one year of service, employees become members and begin contributing to Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). Employee contributions are set by statute, which currently requires four percent of gross compensation. Employer contributions may fluctuate depending on the funding needs of KPERS. The employer contributions remain with KPERS at the time an employee terminates and withdraws.[10]
Deferred Compensation plans are authorized under Section 457 of the Internal Revenue Code. The State of Kansas offers this defined contribution plan to its employees as a supplement to their regular retirement income from the state.[10]
[edit] Other benefits
KanElect allows the employee to pay for Health Plan premiums, non-reimbursed health care expenses, and dependent daycare expenses with pretax dollars.[10] There are three benefit plans under KanElect[10]:
- Pretax Premium Option - allows the employee to pay for the cost of (the State of Kansas) Health Plan premiums with pretax or after-tax dollars.
- Health Care Flexible Spending Account - allows the employee to use pretax dollars to pay health care expenses allowed by the IRS but not reimbursed by medical, dental, prescription drug or vision insurance.
- Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account - allows the employee to use pretax dollars to pay for work related daycare expenses.
[edit] Public v. private sector
The Heritage Foundation has published a report saying that the elimination of the "Bush Tax Cuts" would cost Kansas 68,000 private sector jobs.[12]
[edit] Additional reading
- Public employee salary
- See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
[edit] External links
- How much it costs individual Kansans to support state government employees
- 2007 state employee salary information from the Wichita Eagle
- Searchable Database of State Employee information, 2007, Kansas City Star
[edit] References
- ↑ Kansas Watchdog, Job Numbers Are Up, Including Government Jobs, Sept. 3, 2010
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2008 Kansas Public Employment U.S. Census Data
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kansas Reporter "Kansas offers buyouts to 4,000 state workers" August 2, 2011
- ↑ The Council of States Governments The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11
- ↑ ‘‘The Council of State Governments,’’ “The Book of the States: 2008”
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 National Conference of State Legislators 2010 Legislator Compensation Data
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 The National Center for State Courts, "Judicial Salary Resource Center" as of Jan. 1, 2010
- ↑ Kansas Constitution,"Article 6, Section 1," retrieved February 27, 2010
- ↑ [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 10.12 10.13 10.14 10.15 10.16 Active State Employees Benefit Guide
- ↑ Kansas Watchdog, Kansas State Employees Get Discount Health Care, Sept. 9, 2010
- ↑ Watchdog, Tax Plan Would Kill 68,000 Jobs in Kansas by 2020, Sept. 24, 2010
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