PORTLAND, Ore. — A study finds that the base salary makes up about half the total cost of compensation for public employees in Oregon.
The study released this week by Portland State University's Center for Public Service found that vacation, overtime, health and pension benefits can often exceed base wages.
Read the PSU report on employer compensation
It examined compensation for 11 job titles in 21 cities and counties in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
The average pay for an entry level state worker is $38,761, and after compensations for benefits, the figure rises to $78,615.
The average pay for a state worker at the top step in their job is $59,299, which rises to $116,339 after compensation for benefits.
The additional state worker costs at entry pay includes health insurance $13,452; retirement, $12.452; overtime $4,505; vacation $8,502 and other costs $942.
The additional state worker cost at the top step includes health insurances $13,452; retirement $20,047; overtime $4,505; vacation $18,094 and other costs $942.
For city and county workers, taxpayers forked out an average entry level pay of $44,955. In addition, health care costs were $15,656; retirement $10,674; overtime $2,884; vacation $10,094 and other costs $2,171.
At the top step average, taxpayers paid $57,074 per city and county government worker i. In addition, health care cost $15,667; retirement $15,148; overtime $2,886; vacation $17,052 and other costs $2,572.
The director of the Center for Public Service, Phil Keisling, says the study gives elected officials a framework to manage compensations costs.
