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Pennsylvania state government salary

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In July 2010, when the state is facing furloughs of layoffs, Gov. Rendell said that he strongly supports legislation to restructure pension benefits for future public-sector unions are due a 4 percent pay increase this year, at a time when the state faces furloughs or layoffs. Rendell proposed that to prevent furloughs or layoff, the unions should accept no pay increase. He conceded, however, that "[t]here is virtually no chance of that going through."[1]

According to 2008 Census data, the state of Pennsylvania and local governments in the state employed a total of 696,616 people.[2] Of those employees, 529,454 were full-time employees receiving a net pay of $2,152,542,653 per month and 167,162 were part-time employees paid $178,554,748 per month.[2] More than 57% of those employees, or 399,454 employees, were in education or higher education.[2]

Elected official salaries

State Government Employee Salaries[3]
Office '10 Salary Current Official
Governor $174,914 Tom Corbett
Lieutenant Governor $146,926 Jim Cawley
Secretary of the Commonwealth $125,939 Carol Aichele
Attorney General $145,529 Kathleen Kane
Treasurer $145,529 Rob McCord

The salary of Pennsylvania's governor ranks 6th 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.[4]

Legislators' salary

Pennsylvania state legislators receive a salary of $78,314.60.[5] Legislators receive a per diem of $154 per month.[5]

Judicial salaries

Pennsylvania Judicial Salaries[6]
Position '10 Salary Current Justice
Chief Justice $191,876 Ronald Castille
Associate Justice $186,450 Thomas Saylor
Associate Justice $186,450 Max Baer
Associate Justice $186,450 Seamus McCaffrey
Associate Justice $186,450 Joan Orie Melvin
Associate Justice $186,450 J. Michael Eakin
Associate Justice $186,450 Debra Todd

The salary of Pennsylvania's chief justice ranks 5th 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.[6]

The salary of Pennsylvania's associate justices ranks 3rd 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.[6]

Local government employees

Main article: Pennsylvania local government salary

In 2011, Sunshine Review requested salary information from 19 local governments in the state.

Teacher Salaries

Teacher Salaries [7]
Beginning Teacher Salary Average Salary
$38,229 $57,237

State employee benefits

Holidays State employees receive the following 11 paid holidays[8]:

  • New Year's Day
  • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Presidents' Day
  • Memorial Day
  • Independence Day
  • Labor Day
  • Columbus Day
  • Veterans' Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Day After Thanksgiving
  • Christmas Day

Annual Leave Full-time employees working a 40 hour work week earn annual leave as follows[9]

Time of service Rate of accumulation Maximum annual leave entitlement per year
Up to 3 years 3.85% of all hours paid 80 hours (10 days)
Over 3 years to 15 years inclusive 5.77% of all hours paid 120 hours (15 days)
Over 15 years to 25 years inclusive 7.70% for all hours paid 160 hours (20 days)
Over 25 years 10% for all hours paid 208 hours (26 days)

Personal Leave Employees receive a personal leave day in their first full year of employment in a full-time position; employees earn two personal leave days in their second year and four personal days (one per quarter) in their third year of employment.[9]

Sick Leave The Commonwealth allows employees to accumulate sick leave at a rate of 5% of their regular paid hours, which amounts to 13 days per year for employees working 40 hour work weeks.[9]

Insurance

All permanent employees who are continuously scheduled to work are eligible for the Commonwealth's life insurance coverage which is equal to the employee's salary up to $40,000.[10]

Optional insurance available to state employees includes Term Life Insurance, Dependent Term Life Insurance, Long Term Disability Insurance and Long Term Care Insurance, Auto Insurance and Home Insurance.[11]

Retirement

Main article: Pennsylvania public pensions

Employees participate in the State Employees Retirement System (SERS). SERS is a defined benefit plan, funded through a combination of employee and employer contributions, as well as investment earnings.[12] Most members contribute 6.25% of their salary.[13] The employer contribution varies depending on investment returns and has ranged from 18% of salary to 0%.[13]

Employees also have the option of participating in the Commonwealth's Deferred Compensation Program in order to supplement pension benefits. Under this program, employees pay no federal income tax on contributions into the program. Funds are not taxable until they are withdrawn from the program, usually at retirement.[9]

Other benefits

  • Family Care Account Program (FCAP) provides employees with the opportunity, through payroll deductions, to use pre-tax income to pay for family care expenses that are incurred to enable them to work. This program allows employees to pay for expenses incurred for eligible employment-related care for children, disabled elder parents and other dependents with salary exempt from federal income and social security taxes.[14]
  • Health Savings Account gives employees the opportunity to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health-related expenses.[15]

See also

External links

2010

2009

2007

References

  1. ↑ The Washington Post "N.J. Gov. Chris Christie opens NGA meeting with censure of public-sector unions" July 9, 2010
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2008 Pennsylvania Public Employment U.S. Census Data
  3. ↑ The Council of States Governments The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11
  4. ↑ ‘‘The Council of State Governments,’’ “The Book of the States: 2008”
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 National Conference of State Legislators 2010 Legislator Compensation Data
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The National Center for State Courts, "Judicial Salary Resource Center" as of Jan. 1, 2010
  7. ↑ [2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z%20TO%202012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00Z
  8. ↑ Pennsylvania Government
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Personnel Rules
  10. ↑ Life Insurance
  11. ↑ Voluntary Benefits
  12. ↑ SERS Home Page for Active Members
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Retirement Code
  14. ↑ Family Care Account Program
  15. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures State Employee Health Benefits
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