Salaries and Benefits

All civil service classes have salary ranges with minimum and maximum rates. Typically, employees are appointed to the minimum rate of the salary range for the class. Special provisions for appointments above the minimum exist to meet special recruitment needs and to accommodate employees who transfer into a class from another civil service class and are already receiving salaries above the minimum.

For those who are new to state service, it might be possible to negotiate a higher salary within the position’s salary range, however not all jobs qualify for this option. For more information, on negotiating your salary, review the state’s Hire Above Minimum policy.

Our employees earn annual or vacation and sick leave credits based on their number of years of state service. Additionally, the State offers 10 paid holidays and professional development days each year based on bargaining unit.

The California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) administers retirement benefits for state employees. For more information on retirement benefits visit the CalPERS website.

Savings Plus is the name of the 401(k) Plan and 457(b) Plan available to most State of California employees. With Savings Plus, you can build a retirement savings account. Automatic payroll deductions from your paycheck are invested in funds you select from the Savings Plus portfolio menu. Money from your paycheck that you invest this way is not taxed until you eventually withdraw it, generally during retirement. For more information on retirement savings accounts visit the Savings Plus website

The Office of the State Public Defender provides comprehensive medical, dental, and vision health care plans for all our employees and their dependents. Employees may select from numerous health care plans that best meet their needs.

A variable work schedule (also known as Alternate Work Schedule) is an alternative to the regular 5-day, 40-hour workweek. This option does not change the number of hours worked, but simply gives employees flexibility to better meet their needs.

There are a few common variable work schedules:

• The 9/8/80 schedule allows employees to work eight 9-hour days and one 8-hour day in a two-week period with one day off every other week.
• Telecommuting (also known as Teleworking) allows an employee, under certain circumstances, to complete their job duties from home – The State encourages the use of telecommuting as an option where management finds that it serves a practical benefit to the agency, such as reducing office-related expenses.

If you are employed in certain public service jobs and have made 120 payments on your Direct Loans (after Oct. 1, 2007), the remaining balance that you owe may be forgiven. Only payments made under certain repayment plans may be counted toward the required 120 payments. You must not be in default on the loans that are forgiven. For more Information on Public Service L​oan Forgiveness visit the U.S. Department of Education website.

We know that sometimes problems arise that you may find difficult to solve alone. The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is designed to assist you, and those close to you, resolve problems affecting your physical and emotional well-being and job performance.

The EAP provides confidential services for a wide range of concerns that include:

• Anxiety
• Anger
• Bereavement of Grief
• Coping with Change
• Depression
• Financial Issues
• Low Self-Esteem
• Substace Abuse

Visit the EAP website.