New York Construction Report staff writer
About 2,600 employees across 18 state agencies who play a critical role in building, maintaining and strengthening New York’s vital infrastructure received pay raises Dec. 5. The salary adjustments, which range from $7,000 to $13,500 depending on position and geographic location, aim to “enhance recruitment and retention among the state’s workforce, particularly in fields like engineering, architecture, land surveying, landscape architecture, and geology.”
“New Yorkers rely on the skills and expertise of engineers to build roads and bridges, construct large-scale buildings, and prevent disasters from occurring,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “Engineering and the licensed positions that support it are some of the most competitive jobs in the world, and after extensive study of the job market, it is clear that state government needs to do more to attract top-tier talent to New York’s public sector.
“The investment in these geographic pay differentials is a smart investment in the future of the Empire State.”
Hochul says the increases will help the state remain competitive with the private sector and other states, particularly in the face of workforce shortages that have impacted agencies responsible for infrastructure, environmental protection, and public health.
The pay increases will primarily benefit employees at the Department of Transportation (DOT), which has the largest number of eligible workers, including 1,620 employees who will see an increase in their compensation. Other agencies that will see significant impacts include the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which will affect 542 employees, and the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which has 70 employees eligible for the increase.
“This pay adjustment is a crucial step in making sure that the state’s infrastructure projects, from building roads and bridges to managing natural resources, continue to meet the growing demands of New Yorkers,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “It’s an investment not only in the individuals who make up our workforce but in the continued safety and resilience of our state.”
Also, the New York State Thruway Authority is also implementing a geographic pay differential to improve recruitment and retention. The proposal, which was unanimously approved by the Thruway Authority Board of Directors earlier today, will take effect in early 2025.
This initiative builds on a geographic pay differential previously implemented by both the state and the Thruway Authority for employees in highway maintenance positions.
With this new pay structure, the state is also aligning compensation with regional market conditions, ensuring that employees in more expensive areas of the state are supported with adjustments that reflect local cost-of-living differences. The changes are expected to have a direct impact on both recruitment and retention, helping New York remain competitive as it continues to modernize its infrastructure and tackle the challenges posed by climate change.
