Organizational
Management and Development
SALARY EQUITY / COMPETITIVENESS
Besides the issue previously mentioned with EPS salaries, there is
the on-going issue of competitiveness of County Agent salaries. Of
particular concern is the inequity of starting salaries between agents
and teachers, particularly Ag. Education teachers with 12 month appointments.
Early in 2005 a study was done comparing agent salaries with teacher’s
salaries (both 10 and 12 month contracts). Agent salaries were somewhat
comparable with teachers with 10 month contracts, but starting salaries
lagged well behind 12-month teacher salaries. The largest differences
were seen in the early career salaries. After about 20 years, the teachers
no longer receive step increases, only cost of living increases. The
data indicates that after mid-career, the agent salaries tended to
catch up to teacher’s salaries and in some cases actually surpass
them. This can likely be attributed to the fact that UGA salary increases
are based on merit whereas teacher’s salaries are based on years
of service.
To partially address the discrepancy in starting salaries, new starting
salaries for Extension Agents were implemented in early 2005. The starting
salary for an agent with a bachelor’s degree increased from $25,000
to $30,000, and the starting salary for an agent with a Master’s
degree was increased from $35,000 to $36,000. This change moves our
starting agent salaries to near the top among states in the southern
region.
Also, in order to address some of the salary compression issues and
to reward some of the highest performing agents, each district was
allocated $20,000 during FY06 budget development from the retiree benefits
dollars. These dollars are in addition to the 1.5% salary enhancement
pool that was provided for in the state budget.
Another change that will ultimately affect the issue of salary competitiveness
is the recent change in the raise amounts associated with the steps
in the Public Service Promotion system. This year the raise for promotion
from PS Rep. to PS Asst. was increased from $1000 to $1500. The raise
for promotion from PS Asst. to PS Assoc. increased from $3300 to $4000,
and the raise for promotion from PS Assoc, to Sr. PS Assoc. increased
from $3300 to $4500.
| UPDATE 12/16/05: |
In December, 2005 the salary supplement
for County Extension Coordinators was officially recognized by
the University of Georgia. What this means is that in the future,
newly appointed CEC's will receive their salary supplement
at the time of their appointment. In the past, this supplement
was only recognized by CAES and consequently was applied as a
permanent salary increase during budget development. Because
of the timing of budget development, most new CEC's were
in this role for 6 to 18 months before they saw a corresponding
increase in their salary.
For those who were already CEC's, the status of their
supplement will not change — it will remain a permanent
part of their salary. However, for new CEC's this will
truly be a supplement for their CEC duties and if they step down
or are removed from this position they will lose the supplement.
The amount of the supplement is determined by the number of
home-based CEA's or Program Specialists who are housed
in their county. The amounts of the supplement are as follows:
- $1500
- one agent county
- $2000 - two agent county
- $2500 - three agent county
- $3000 - four or more agents
The advantage of this change is that new CEC's will receive
their compensation beginning at the time of their appointment
and will not have to wait a year or more before they receive
compensation. |
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