Massachusetts state government salary
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This page describes the compensation, salaries, and benefits that Massachusetts public employees receive from state and local government.
The Boston Globe found in August 2008 that bonuses boost council staff pay.
[edit] Elected officials salaries
| Office | '10 Salary | Current Official |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | $140,535 | Deval Patrick |
| Lieutenant Governor | $124,920 | Timothy Murray |
| Secretary of State | $130,916 | William Galvin |
| Attorney General | $133,644 | Martha Coakley |
| Treasurer | $130,916 | Steven Grossman |
The salary of Massachusetts' governor ranks 16th 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.[2]
[edit] Legislators' salary
Massachusetts state legislators make $58,237.15 per year.[3] Legislators also receive a per diem that ranges between $10 to $100 per day, depending on the legislator's distance from State House.[3]
[edit] Judicial salaries
| Position | '09 Salary | Current Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Justice | $151,239 | Barbara Lenk |
| Associate Justice | $145,984 | Ralph Gants |
| Chief Justice | $145,984 | Roderick Ireland |
| Associate Justice | $145,984 | Francis Spina |
| Associate Justice | $145,984 | Fernande Duffly |
| Associate Justice | $145,984 | Robert Cordy |
| Associate Justice | $145,984 | Margot Botsford |
The salary of Massachusetts' chief justice ranks 26th 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 Massachusetts' associate justices ranks 26th 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
According to 2008 Census data, the state of Massachusetts and local governments in the state employed a total of 403,808 people.[5] Of those employees, 305,924 were full-time employees receiving a net pay of $1,408,423,479 per month and 97,884 were part-time employees paid $121,702,932 per month.[5] More than 54% of those employees, or 221,115 employees, were in education or higher education.[5]
Recently, Massport chief Thomas Kinton is one of the highest paid public employees in the state. Kinton earned $312,000 in 2010. When he retires in June, he will collect $459,616.01 from the state's sick day buy back program and collect a pension of about $200,000 a year.[6]
[edit] Teacher Salaries
The Massachusetts Teachers Association bargains with local school districts over teacher salaries. A database of collective bargaining contracts can be found here.
| Beginning Teacher Salary | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| $38,570 | $66,712 |
In Fiscal Year 2009 the state of Massachusetts spent a total of $4.61 billion on teacher salaries. According to state reports the state had an estimated 68,290 teachers at an average yearly salary of $67,577. Compared to 2008 at an estimated average salary of $64,166, 2009 saw an increase of $3,411. However, the state decreased the number of teachers from 69,331 to 68,290; a loss of about 1,041 teachers. The chart below highlights the average teacher salaries for the state, the total number of teachers and total salary costs to the state for fiscal years 2004 through 2009.[8]
| Fiscal year | Total Salaries | Total Teachers | Average Salaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2004 | $3,960,071,176 | 73,699.7 | $53,733 |
| FY 2005 | $4,034,582,103 | 73,756.6 | $54,701 |
| FY 2006 | $4,171,116,385 | 74,001.1 | $56,366 |
| FY 2007 | $4,298,145,779 | 73,779.0 | $58,257 |
| FY 2008 | $4,448,732,392 | 69,331.4 | $64,166 |
| FY 2009 | $4,614,826,373 | 68,289.5 | $67,577 |
[edit] Unions and collective bargaining
Personnel costs, including salaries and benefits, account for 75% of local Massachusetts budgets. The House passed a bill on April 26, 2011, divesting policemen, firefighters, teachers and other municipal employees of their ability to collectively bargain for most health-care benefits. It is expected to save cities and towns an estimated $100 million in FY2012 alone. Democrats, including the Speaker of the House, spearheaded passage of the bill. The governor has not said if he will sign the bill.[9]
[edit] Benefits
The State of Massachusetts offers its employees many benefits.
[edit] Insurance
Health
To be eligible for health insurance, employees must work at least 18.75 hours in a 37.5-hour work week or 20 hours in a 40-hour work week. Employees have several different insurance plans from which to choose, including four HMO plans, two PPO plans and a basic plan.[10] Prescription drug benefits are included in each plan.[10]
Dental and Vision
The Dental/Vision Program is for state employees who are not covered by collective bargaining or do not have another dental and/or vision plan through the state.[11] The plan primarily covers managers, Legislators, Legislative staff, and certain Executive Office staff.[11] Individual coverage costs employees up to $5 per month, and family coverage costs up to $17.68 per month.[12]
Long Term Disability
All active full-time and half-time state employees who work at least 18.75 hours in a 37.5-hour work week or 20 hours in a 40-hour work week are eligible for LTD benefits. New employees may enroll in LTD without providing evidence of good health within 31 days of hire.[13] Employees who do not smoke pay as little as $0.05 per month for this benefit, and, depending on the employee's age, pay at most $1.30 per month.[12]
Life Insurance
The Commonwealth offers $5,000 of Basic Life Insurance to all active state employees.[14] For basic life insurance, the employee pays $1.71 per month.[15] Supplemental life insurance is also available to employees[14]
[edit] Retirement
Regular state employees working half-time or more are required to enroll as a member of the State Employees Retirement System administered by the State Board of Retirement.[16] The date of the employee's hire and rate of pay determine the percentage rate of your bi-weekly retirement deduction, which ranges from 5% to 9% for employees not in the State Police. The Commonwealth does not contribute a specific percentage per employee towards this program; however the Commonwealth contributes an overall amount annually to the fund needed to cover any unfunded liability.[16]
The deferred compensation plan available to employees is called the Smart Plan is a 457 deferred compensation plan that allows employees to make pre-tax contributions and all earnings are tax-deferred. The amounts accumulated on your behalf are distributed at retirement, or due to another qualifying event, such as separation from service or death.[16]
[edit] Other benefits
Health Care Spending Account Active employees can pay for out-of-pocket health care expenses on a pre-tax basis, reducing participants' federal and state income taxes.[17]
Dependent Care Spending Account The Dependent Care Assistance Program allows state employees to pay for certain dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.[18]
Employee Assistance Program Employees can receive help dealing with work place issues such as stress management, disruptive workplace behavior, and substance abuse as well as access counseling through the employee Assistance Program.[19]
[edit] Paid time off
Holidays Commonwealth employees receive 11 paid holidays per year.[20]
- New Year's Day
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Washington's Birthday
- Patriot's Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veteran's Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
Vacation Employees earn vacation based on their time of employment.[16] Number of hours of vacation earned per month[16]
| Years of Service | Working 37.5 hrs/week | working 40 hrs/week |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 4 ½ years | 6.25 | 6.667 |
| 4 ½ yrs but less than 9 ½ yrs | 9.375 | 10.0 |
| 9 ½ yrs but less than 19 ½ yrs | 12.5 | 13.333 |
| 19 ½ yrs or more | 15.625 | 16.667 |
Sick Leave
After one full calendar month of employment, employees accrue 1.25 sick days for each full month of service, to a total of 15 days per year, which may accumulate indefinitely. Thirty days (30) days per year may be used as Family Sick. Part-time employees earn time on a pro-rata basis. Twenty percent (20%) of sick time is paid out upon retirement.[16]
Personal Leave 3 Personal days are awarded each Jan 1st for use during the calendar year, and are awarded on a pro-rata basis to part-time employees.[16] Any unused personal time at the end of the year is forfeited.[16]
[edit] Additional reading
- Public employee salary
- See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
[edit] External links
- Massachusetts State Homepage
- Boston Herald State Salary
- Massachusetts 2009 State Employee Payroll, Boston Herald
[edit] References
- ↑ The Council of States Governments The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11
- ↑ ‘‘The Council of State Governments,’’ “The Book of the States: 2008”
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 National Conference of State Legislators 2010 Legislator Compensation Data
- ↑ 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 2008 Massachusetts Public Employment U.S. Census Data
- ↑ Boston Herald, Massport chief’s $459G goodbye, Feb. 17, 2011
- ↑ [2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z%20TO%202012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z
- ↑ Massachusetts Department of Education,"FY04 to FY09 Average Teacher Salaries, Massachusetts Public Schools," retrieved May 16, 2010
- ↑ The Wall Street Journal "Union Busting, Massachusetts Style" April 29, 2011
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Active Employees Health Plans
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Dental/Vision Plan
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Other Benefit Rates
- ↑ Long Term Disability Insurance
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Life insurance
- ↑ Plan Rates
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 Benefits
- ↑ Health Care Spending Accounts
- ↑ Dependent Care Spending Account
- ↑ Employee Assistance Program
- ↑ Massachusetts Legal Holidays
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