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Compensation Surveys

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​Total Compensation Surveys

Government Code section 19826(c) and provisions of the Budget Act require 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, the report compared of State of California employee wages, pay differentials, health benefits, retirement, paid leave, and other compensation.  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.

​Bargaining Unit 5 - California Highway Patrol Officer Surveys

Government Code section 19827 and the Unit 5 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) require CalHR and the California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP) to jointly complete an annual compensation survey.  Compensation is defined as salary, patrol bonuses, seniority pay, physical performance pay, education incentives, and employee contributions to retirement.  The survey compares the compensation of California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers with the weighted average compensation of peace officers working for the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Oakland Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and the San Francisco Police Department.  If the survey determines the compensation for CHP officers is behind the weighted average compensation of peace officers at the surveyed jurisdictions, CHP officers receive a general salary increase equivalent to the difference, effective July 1.

​Bargaining Unit 6 - Correctional Officer Surveys

In accordance with Government Code section 19826, and 19827.1, CalHR completed this survey comparing the employer's costs for providing wages and common employee benefits. The survey compares the compensation of California Correctional Officers with the average compensation of peace officers working for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.​​​​

​Bargaining Unit 8 - California Firefighter Surveys

Government Code section 19827.3 and the Unit 8 MOU require CalHR to conduct a compensation survey that compares the salary and benefits for State of California firefighter classifications with similar firefighter classifications working in local government fire departments in California. 

​Bargaining Unit 9 – Professional Engineer Surveys

​Article 3.1 of the Unit 9 MOU requires CalHR and the professional Engineers in California Government (PECG) to jointly complete an annual salary survey.  This survey compares the maximum salaries for three State of California engineering classifications to comparable classifications employed at 18 public agencies and 10 University of California campuses. 

​Frequently Asked Questions

 

 

1. What is the difference between salary surveys and total compensation surveys? 1. What is the difference between salary surveys and total compensation surveys? <p>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.<br> <br>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. </p>
2. Why do compensation surveys exist?2. Why do compensation surveys exist?<p>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. </p>
3. When are these surveys published?3. When are these surveys published?<p>​<a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=19826.&lawCode=GOV" title="Government Code 19826" target="_blank">Government Code 19​826 ​</a>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.  <br></p>
4. Where can I find the government codes and Bargaining Unit contracts that mandate these surveys? 4. Where can I find the government codes and Bargaining Unit contracts that mandate these surveys? <p>​​· The total compensation survey is required by <a title="Government Code 19826(c)" href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=19826" target="_blank">Government Code 19826(c)</a><br>· The Unit 5, California Highway Patrol Officer Compensation Survey is required by <a title="Government Code 19827" href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=19827" target="_blank">Government Code 19827</a> and the <a title="Unit 5 Memoranda of Understanding" href="/labor-relations/Pages/Unit-05-Highway-Patrol.aspx" target="_blank">Unit 5 Memoranda of Understanding</a><br></p><p>· The Unit 6, Correctional Officer Total Compensation Survey is required by <a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=19827.1.&nodeTreePath=3.5.4.2.3&lawCode=GOV" title="Government Code 19827.1" target="_blank">Government Code 19827.1​</a><br></p><p>· The Unit 8, California Firefighter Total Compensation Survey is required by <a title="Governement Code 19827.3" href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=19827.3" target="_blank">Government Code 19827.3</a> <br>· The Unit 9, Professional Engineers Salary Survey is required by the <a title="Unit 9 Memoranda of Understanding Article 3.1" href="/labor-relations/Pages/Unit-09-Professional-Engineers.aspx" target="_blank">Unit 9 Memoranda of Understanding</a><br></p>
5. How can I use these surveys?5. How can I use these surveys?<p>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.</p>
6. How do I find my classification in a total compensation report or salary survey? 6. How do I find my classification in a total compensation report or salary survey? <p>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.<br></p>
7. Why is the salary of my classification in a compensation report more than what I earn?7. Why is the salary of my classification in a compensation report more than what I earn?<p>​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. </p>
8. Should I expect the state benefit dollar amount for my occupation to be similar to my own monthly benefit amount? 8. Should I expect the state benefit dollar amount for my occupation to be similar to my own monthly benefit amount? <p>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. <br></p>
9. Where can I find more information about the Standardized Occupation Classification system, occupations, and national/regional compensation statistics?9. Where can I find more information about the Standardized Occupation Classification system, occupations, and national/regional compensation statistics?<p>​· <a title="Standard Occupational Classification System" href="http://www.bls.gov/soc/" target="_blank">Standard Occupational Classification System </a><br>· <a title="O*NET Online" href="http://www.onetonline.org/" target="_blank">O*NET Online </a><br>· <a title="Bureau of Labor Statistics- Occupational Employment Statistics" href="http://www.bls.gov/oes/" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics- Occupational Employment Statistics </a><br>·<a title="Bureau of Labor Statistics- National Compensation Survey" href="http://www.bls.gov/ncs/" target="_blank"> Bureau of Labor Statistics- National Compensation Survey</a></p>

​Contacts

​​Economic Research Unit
EconomicResearch@calhr.ca.gov ​

  Updated: 7/2/2018
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