Governor Perdue Announces Pay Raise for State Employees, No Increase in Healthcare Premiums

Governor Perdue Announces Pay Raise for State Employees, No Increase in Healthcare Premiums

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that his FY07 budget includes a range of salary increases for all state employees beginning with four percent for those at the lowest end of their pay scale, and ranging to two percent for those at the highest range of their pay scale. This is the first step in restructuring state employee salaries to improve the state’s competitiveness in the overall job market. The salary increase will be effective January 1, 2007. State employees will also not have an increase in health care premiums.

“State employees work very hard every day to meet the needs of the citizens of Georgia,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “They give of themselves and often work behind-the-scenes to make state government function efficiently. I appreciate their dedication to public service.”

The total amount of the raise depends on the employee’s position within the pay grade. The greater the difference between the market midpoint and the employee’s current salary, the larger the pay increase. Sixty-nine percent of the state workforce will receive more than the two percent increase. Fifty-three percent of the workforce (average salary of $31,423.09) will receive a pay increase between three and four percent. Six percent of current state employees (average salary of $23,238.52) will be eligible for the full four percent pay increase. Sixteen percent of state employees will receive a pay raise between two and 2.5 percent. Thirty-one percent of the state workforce (average salary of $42,915.95) will receive a two percent pay increase.

The minimum and maximum salary of each pay grade on the statewide salary plan will increase four percent. The salary increases will remain contingent upon the state’s performance review process.