Compensation Surveys

Government Code section 19826(c) and provisions of the Budget Act require the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) to compare total compensation of State of California employees with employees working in comparable occupations in local government, federal government, and the private sector.

Beginning in 2013, CalHR adopted the benchmarking standards and established methodologies from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics to conduct comparative analyses of total compensation. By examining variables such as wages, pay differentials, health benefits, retirement, paid leave, and other compensation, the state is able to compare its compensation practices with other employer groups within California, and provide valuable insights to current and prospective employees, policy makers, and the public.

• 2024 California State Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 1, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, and 21)​
• 2023 California State Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 2, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16, 18, and 19)​
• 2021 California State Employee Total Compensation Report​
  (bargaining units 1, 3, 4, 7, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, and 21)
• 2020​ Cali​fo​rnia St​ate Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 2, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 1​8)​​​
• 2018 California State Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 9, 10, 12, 16, and 19)
• 2018 California State Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 1, 3, 4, 11, 14, 15, 17, 20, and 21)
• 2017 California State Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 2, 7, 13, and 18)
• ​2016 California State Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 9 and 10)
• 2014 California State Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21)
• 2013 California State Employee Total Compensation Report
  (bargaining units 6, 9, 10, and 12)

Prior to 2013, the report compared the maximum salaries and maximum benefits of State of California employees with the median maximum salaries and median maximum benefits paid to employees performing similar work at local public sector employers throughout California.

• 2008 Total Compensation Survey (General Classifications)
• 2008 Public Safety Survey(Public Safety Classifications)