Salary surveys primarily compare the salaries of state benchmark classifications with similar benchmark classifications in the labor market. Sometimes specific pay differentials and benefits are also included with a base salary comparison, depending on the requirements of the survey.
Total compensation surveys compare salaries and common benefits offered by employers, such as health and retirement, supplemental pay, and sometimes the value of paid leave.
Different government codes, provisions in the budget act, and specific Bargaining Unit Memoranda of Understanding mandate specific compensation comparisons of state classifications. Each comparison is dependent on the language in the governing documents that regulate each survey.
Government Code 19826 requires biennial compensation reports for bargaining units 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 18, and 19 effective February 1, 2025, and then units 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, and 21 effective February 1, 2026.
· The total compensation survey is required by Government Code 19826(c)
· The Unit 5, California Highway Patrol Officer Compensation Survey is required by Government Code 19827 and the Unit 5 Memoranda of Understanding
· The Unit 6, Correctional Officer Total Compensation Survey is required by Government Code 19827.1
· The Unit 8, California Firefighter Total Compensation Survey is required by Government Code 19827.3
· The Unit 9, Professional Engineers Salary Survey is required by the Unit 9 Memoranda of Understanding
The intent for most of the survey reports is to provide perspective of how the state’s compensation practices compare with other employers in the labor market. The reports do not define the appropriate level of compensation for state employees; instead they should be used as a reference for compensation and workforce planning purposes, and during bargaining contract negotiations.
For salary surveys, benchmark classifications are included in the methodology for each report. For total compensation reports, you can view the Total Compensation Dashboard to see if your classification is grouped in one of the occupations included in those reports.
Typically salaries are not compared at the starting point of a position to determine if the classification is paid at or above market. The wages reported in salary surveys can include a state classification’s maximum salary, the average salary earned, or the median salary earned for a classification or for a series of classifications mapped to the same occupation. If you are new to the classification or new to state service, the state wage used in a salary survey may be higher.
No. The benefit dollar amount published in the total compensation reports displays the average cost for employee benefits for workers associated with each bargaining unit. Benefits published in these reports include the employer’s cost for supplemental pay including overtime, pay differentials, value for paid leave, the employer’s contribution towards insurance premiums, the employer’s contribution toward retirement, and the employer’s cost for legally required benefits such as Medicare and Social Security.
