State Workers with Highest Average Gross Pay in 2010 Worked for New Jersey, New York, California, Alaska, Maryland and Connecticut

Of these top paying states, biggest year-over-year percentage increase was in NY

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New Jersey and New York topped the list of states with the highest average gross pay for state employees last year, according to an analysis of recently released U.S. Census of Governments data by CGR Govistics™, a project of the Center for Governmental Research.

Next in line, all with average annual state worker pay exceeding $51,000, were California, Alaska, Maryland, and Connecticut.

Of the six states, the biggest year-over-year increase on a percentage basis was in New York, which was up 3.4%. Only one – Connecticut – saw a reduction in average gross pay from the previous year (-5%).  

There were five states where the average pay for a state worker was under $35,000 in 2010. The state with the lowest average pay was North Dakota, followed by West Virginia, South Dakota, Missouri and Indiana.  One of the five – Indiana – also experienced a year-over-year reduction (-4.3%).

"Governments are people-driven businesses, and employees are their most valuable resource," said Dr. Joseph Stefko, CGR's Director of Public Finance.  "For this reason, workforce costs consume a large portion of public budgets at all levels of government. These new data offer a window into those costs at the state level and how they compare across the country."

Stefko also noted the focus on public employee costs taking place nationwide. "A host of states face critical budgetary decisions in the coming years – New Jersey, New York, California, Rhode Island, Illinois and others. And while efforts to balance state budgets and stabilize state finances cannot ignore employee costs, discussions must be based on fact, not emotion."

CGR Govistics™ is a searchable online database allowing users to view, track, compare and download U.S. Census of Governments data showing revenue, spending, employment and payroll information for 39,000 state and local governments and spending and revenue for 15,000 school districts nationwide. State- and county-level data are free, and a subscription for as little as 99 cents unlocks access to the full spectrum of information in Govistics.

About CGR: The Center for Governmental Research (CGR) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization dedicated to improving government and school district efficiency and effectiveness.

SOURCE Center for Governmental Research