Pay Hike for State Employees Supports Strategic HR Approach | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory has signed the $22.3 billion state budget which includes salary increases for North Carolina state government employees, effective July 1, 2016.

    "This increase is part of an ongoing effort to modernize HR practices and help align state employee pay with the market range for similar jobs," said Neal Alexander, Director of the Office of State Human Resources. "It will help us in attracting and retaining the best and brightest to serve the people of North Carolina."

    The 1.5 percent pay hike is just the latest in a series of salary increases state employees have received since Governor McCrory entered office. Just last month, nearly 13,000 state employees received pay raises, which averaged 5.9 percent, to better align their pay with the general job market. In January, more than 10,000 correctional officers received pay raises and in July 2015, approximately 1,600 State Highway Patrol officers were among the 2,000 state employees who received strategic pay increases.

    The budget also includes appropriations for state employees to earn merit-based bonuses later this year.

    Additionally, Teachers will receive an average 4.7 percent pay increase, bringing average teacher pay in North Carolina above $50,000 for the first time in state history. When considering robust health and retirement benefits offered to every full-time teacher in our state, the budget will boost average total compensation to more than $67,000. Teacher pay in North Carolina is growing faster than in any other state in the country under Governor McCrory's leadership. Since 2013, North Carolina has invested more than $1 billion in new funding for teacher raises.

      NC Department of Health and Human Services

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