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Avg state worker pay approaches $60,000 a year

November
10

The average salary of a state worker is $59,717 annually, up 8 percent since 2006, according to a new report. The report, from the Empire Center, a conservative think tank, also found that the average cost of a state worker to taxpayers (salary plus benefits and payroll taxes) is $86,585 a year.

That money is being spent on a work force that has grown by nearly 8,000 since 2006, to just under 240,000 workers.

Much of that increase happened last year, in the first year of then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer. GOv. David Paterson announced a hiring freeze in April, less than a month after taking office.

Most state-worker unions have signed contracts within the year that call for 13 percent raises over four years.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 10th, 2008 at 4:55 pm by Jay Gallagher.
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18 Responses to “Avg state worker pay approaches $60,000 a year”

  1. the consultant

    the problem isn’t the salaries..its the size of the workforce and the pensions

  2. ed1

    Yes

  3. the consultant

    there is a reason nys is broke…the political forces
    that be both parties have catered to the unions…they
    have nuckled under to their demands for money and benefits
    and now the piper calls..I say fire 1/3 of the workforce
    and let the federal government pick up the tab…that
    will lower property taxes in new york…and allow
    the state to grow properly…for those who loose their
    jobs…sorry you were as greedy as those who bought
    homes too big for their salaries..don’t worry the liberal
    democrats will take care of you!

  4. Change We Can Believe In

    These salaries should be higher. The working man deserves more. Let the rich business & home owners pay more.

  5. homeowner

    Spend your career at Disneyland. You’re taking the taxpayer for a ride, you might as well literally run the cranks.

  6. Change We Can Believe In

    Look how many large homes are in Westchester. Look at hom many gas eating SUVs are out there. The working man deserve more. We have a new president and both state houses are controlled by democrates. It is the working man time. This is a change we can believe in.

  7. working man

    Workers Unite. Better pay shorter work week.

  8. homeowner

    Without Joe Ranchhouse and his SUV, you’d have no school system, no cops, no fire protection, no a lot of things you take for granted. Ever bother to find out how these things work and how they’re paid for? The schools are producing more and more people who can’t figure out how to make change of a buck, never mind produce a buck.

  9. other salaries

    How about your elected officials in Albany?????
    Base salary of 79,500, work THREE days a week from Jan thru June. Rest of the time, pretend to be helping us while actually campaigning for the next run.
    Health benefits, retirement system credit. Plus gas for Albany travel and hotel reimbursement for the three days a week.
    OVERPAID YES. They are the biggest rip off on the state payroll.

  10. the consultant

    what kind of working man are you..most working men
    have homes and pay taxes..they may not be mansions
    but they buy cars and their kids go to public schools
    now who the hell do you think pays for all of that
    and even if you are a renter you still need a tax
    base ..so everytime you raise property taxes you
    are crippling your own tax base, and forcing
    people to leave the state .IF you don’t beleive
    me get in your toyota, and take a ride up
    the thruway to Plattsburgh new york…thats
    what happens with no residential tax base and no
    industry….its called appalacia

  11. 7curses

    it is absolutely absurd to say the workers are greedy. those salaries are not high. many civil service (state workers) employees cannot not afford to live close to where they work and therefore buy homes in less affluent neighborhoods and boost that local economy. people who denigrate unions and government employees should be asked one question – do you want to teach ? be corrections officer ? be a cop ? be a fireman ? be a probation officer ? be a garbage man ? be a clerk ? if not, shut up ! ! !

  12. A Change We Can Believe In

    Universal Health care is what everyone needs. The people spoke on election day and we want change.

  13. A Change We Can Believe In

    Universal Health Care is the what is needed. Many people who do not work for the government need health coverage. The time for real chabge has come. The people have spoken

  14. smartporpoise

    The Seven Curses – Famine, Pestilence, Flood, Locusts, Boils, Gnats, and Darkness – has spoken again!

  15. 7 Curses is wrong

    7 Curses, there is a huge waiting list to become a fireman. And going by your logic, McDonald’s workers should be paid $1 million a year since few people truly want to work serving fries.

    In fact, there is usually proportional relationship between desire to work in an industry and salaries. Many people want to become doctors in part because of the high salaries.

    Going by your logic, we should have also elected McCain since only those who serve in the military have a right to speak for and against war.

    All of the aforementioned workers have much better hours, pension plans, and job security than those in the private sector. Especially considering than many in jobs such as fireman didn’t have to incur Tthe debt from paying for four years of college. The sacrifice should be in salaries.

    Teachers in Westchester can make over 6 figures with summers off and tenure after 3 years. Do you honestly believe that is being underpaid?

  16. Change

    We have taken back our government. It is time to look at Reperations. The time has come.

  17. Andy P.

    60K is a lot of money?? Are you joking? That’s peanuts.

  18. No Hands Out

    How about $86.5 as a real (average) number, for almost 300,000 mostly patronage positions, 100,000 of which are superfluous? You have obviously found your own sanctimonious, overstuffed featherbed.

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