Governor Kathy Hochul is raising pay for professional engineers, architects, land surveyors, landscape architects and geologists within New York State agencies who are committed to building, maintaining and strengthening vital infrastructure used by New Yorkers daily throughout the Empire State. To help improve recruitment and retention among the state’s workforce, approximately 2,600 employees across 18 state agencies will be receiving pay increases ranging from $7,000 to $13,500 depending on their position and geographic location.
“New Yorkers rely on the skills and expertise of engineers to build roads and bridges, construct large scale buildings, and prevent disasters from occurring,” Governor 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 a world class talent pool to New York’s public sector. The investment in these geographic pay differentials is a smart investment in the future of the Empire State.”
These pay increases, which are effective Dec. 5, are part of Governor Hochul’s historic and continuing commitment to the state’s public workforce while boosting her administration’s efforts to rebuild, maintain, harden and reimagine infrastructure used by New Yorkers and visitors throughout the state. They will also bolster economic development efforts and improve resiliency in the face of climate change and extreme weather.
The salary increase is expected to have the greatest impact at the following agencies, which currently have the largest number of eligible employees:
- Department of Transportation — 1,620 employees
- Department of Environmental Conservation — 542 employees
- Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation— 70 employees
- Department of Health — 60 employees
- Office of General Services — 57 employees
In addition to the above agencies, the New York State Thruway Authority is implementing a pay differential to improve recruitment and retention of employees seeking to begin or continue a career with the Thruway Authority. The proposal was unanimously approved by the New York State Thruway Authority Board of Directors earlier today and goes into effect in early 2025. This action builds on a geographic pay differential previously implemented by both the State of New York and the Thruway Authority for employees in highway maintenance titles.
New York State fosters an environment that encourages and supports the professional growth and career opportunities for engineers, and employs thousands of engineers and related professionals across the state. Most of these positions are in the Professional Technical & Scientific Unit, which is represented by the Public Employees Federation (PEF). Thruway Authority titles impacted are mainly represented by the Teamsters Local 456 and CSEA Local 058.
Earlier this year, the Department of Civil Service launched an expanded New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide (NY HELPS) program to assist state and local agencies in better filling vacancies open to the public. The NY HELPS program temporarily waives the civil service exam requirements for thousands of vacant State job openings open to the general public. For those remaining positions that require exams, all State exam application fees are waived through December 2025 following an agreement secured by Governor Hochul in the FY 2024 Budget.
As of Oct. 31, more than 19,800 appointments have been made by state agencies through the NY HELPS program.