Nebraska state government salary
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This page describes the compensation, salaries, and benefits that Nebraska's public employees receive from state and local government.
[edit] Elected officials' salaries
| Office | '10 Salary | Current Official |
|---|---|---|
| Governor | $105,000[2] | Dave Heineman |
| Lieutenant Governor | $75,000 | Rick Sheehy |
| Secretary of State | $ 85,000 | John Gale |
| Attorney General | $95,000 | Jon Bruning |
| Treasurer | $85,000 | Shane Osborn |
The salary of Nebraska's governor ranks 40th 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] Legislators' salary
Nebraska state legislators make $12,000 per year.[4] Legislators also receive a per diem tied to federal rate at $109/day for legislators living outside 50-mile radius from Capitol; $39/day if the legislator resides within 50 miles of Capitol.[4]
[edit] Judicial salaries
| Position | '09 Salary | Current Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice | $139,278 | Mike Heavican |
| Associate Justice | $139,278 | Kenneth Stephan |
| Associate Justice | $139,278 | Lindsey Miller-Lerman |
| Associate Justice | $139,278 | John Gerrard |
| Associate Justice | $139,278 | Michael McCormack |
| Associate Justice | $139,278 | William Connolly |
| Associate Justice | $139,278 | John Wright |
The salary of Nebraska's chief justice ranks 40th 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 Nebraska's associate justices ranks 34th 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]
- An overview of state spending is provided in the Nebraska Personnel Almanac, published annually by the Nebraska Department of Administrative services. The report gives overall spending, workforce size and geographic distribution, and salaries of the top executives. Nebraska Library Commission - page on Personnel Almanac.
- The state also publishes the personnel rosters of the universities in the University of Nebraska system here.
[edit] State and local employees
According to 2008 Census data, the state of Nebraska and local governments in the state employed a total of 143,208 people.[6] Of those employees, 102,439 were full-time employees receiving a net pay of $376,569,618 per month and 40,769 were part-time employees paid $35,446,767 per month.[6] More than 55% of those employees, or 79,724 employees, were in education or higher education.[6]
The largest state employees union and the state agreed to a new contract that include a pay freeze for 2011 and 2 percent pay raises in 2012-13.[7]
[edit] State employee benefits
[edit] Insurance
Health Insurance
Gov. Heineman said that state employees contribute 21 percent toward their health insurance premiums.[8]
The State of Nebraska offers several types of health insurance plans, including a high deductible PPO and regular PPO[9], for employees working 20 hours or more per week with premiums for part-time employees are pro-rated. The state pays approximately 79% of the total premium of whichever plan type you choose. Health insurance premiums are tax sheltered under the IRS Section 125.[10]
Monthly Health Care costs[9]
| Plan | Employee Cost | State Cost | Total Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wellness PPO Plan | $93.84 | $352.98 | $446.82 |
| BlueChoice Plan | $121.64 | $457.56 | $579.20 |
| Regular PPO Plan | $98.78 | $371.56 | $470.34 |
| High Deductible PPO Plan | $84.70 | $318.60 | $403.30 |
Optional vision and dental insurance is available to employees. Vision insurance costs an individual employee $7.10 or $11.00 per month, depending on which plan the employee chooses.[9] Dental insurance costs an employee $21.82 per month for individual coverage.[9]
Life Insurance
The state provides a $20,000 basic term life insurance policy to all eligible employees regardless of age. The State of Nebraska pays fully for the policy for full-time employees. In addition to the basic term life insurance provided by the state, employees have a number of options for purchasing additional life insurance for him or her self and dependents.[10]
[edit] Retirement
State employees are eligible to participate in the Nebraska State Employees Retirement System. Membership in the plan begins immediately upon employment. Deductions are 4.8% of gross pay each pay period. The state matches your contributions at the rate of 156%.[10]
Deferred Compensation A deferred compensation plan allows setting aside a portion of wages under a tax deferred program. This money is then available upon retirement. The State of Nebraska Deferred Compensation Plan is a voluntary way to accumulate supplementary retirement income.[10]
[edit] Paid time off
Holidays Permanent employees receive 12 paid holidays per year.[10] Employees working part time should receive part time off on holidays on a pro-rated basis[10] The following are state holidays[11]:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- President’s day
- Arbor day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day
- Veteran’s Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- The Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
Bereavement leave may be granted for up to five days upon request for a death in the immediate family. "Immediate family" means spouse, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, sister, brother, child, grandchild, spouse of any of these, or someone who bears a similar relationship to the spouse of the employee.[10]
Civil leave is available for jury duty, election board duty or voting time.[10]
Military leave is granted in accordance with applicable federal and state laws.[10]
[edit] Other benefits
Tuition Assistance A permanent employee enrolled in courses of instruction related to his/her work or future advancement within the DHHS may be eligible for reimbursement of 50% to 75% of your tuition costs. Up to 9 credit hours of coursework or the equivalent may be taken during any one fiscal year.[10]
Employee Assistance Program All employees are eligible to use the Best Care Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This benefit, provided by the Methodist Hospital Health System, is designed to help employees and their families work through personal problems including, but not limited to, marital and family conflicts, grief issues, stress, legal problems, chemical dependency, financial troubles, and psychological and emotional difficulties.[10]
[edit] Additional reading
- Public employee salary
- See sample transparency legislation at the Sunshine Standard
[edit] External links
- Nebraska State & Local Salaries
- Nebraska Salary Survey
- Nebraska Homepage
- State Budget Solutions, Nebraska
- Personnel rosters of the universities in the University of Nebraska system
[edit] 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 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
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 2008 Nebraska Public Employment U.S. Census Data
- ↑ The Omaha World-Herald "State budget gap shrinks" Nov. 16, 2010
- ↑ The Journal Star "Heineman weighs in on CIR, collective bargaining issues" Feb. 23, 2011
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Enrollment Guide
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 Employee Benefits
- ↑ Holidays
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