Overall, city government employees make less than the workforce at large, although their benefit packages add a lot of value.
On average, city employees make $69,400 per year, based on a roster of some 2,800 city employees obtained in September. That compares to about $90,100 citywide and $70,200 regionwide, according to the American Community Survey and Bureau of Labor Statistics, respectively.
The city’s compensation philosophy aims “to be competitive at a minimum with the average pay” of neighboring local governments.
For a rough comparison to the private sector regionwide, here’s a sampling of annual wage averages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Chief executive: $240,100
Financial manager: $166,000
Human resources manager: $148,800
Budget analyst: $98,000
Network and computer systems administrator: $101,700
Civil or environmental engineer: $98,000
Lawyer: $178,000
Computer programmer: $99,400
Here are some rules of thumb that estimate the value, on top of salary, of city-paid benefits (FICA, health, pension, disability, life insurance), according to city spokesperson Craig Fifer:
General schedule employees: add 36 percent,
Sheriff’s deputies and medics: add 53 percent,
Fire and police: add 74 percent.
These averages don’t apply uniformly to every employee. A given compensation package depends on variables specific to the individual.
In particular, the city’s health insurance contributions vary widely, depending on the chosen plan (if any) and the number of people covered.
According to Frank Shafroth of George Mason University’s Center for State and Local Government Leadership: “In general, Alexandria is — and tries to be — competitive with regard to health and retirement benefits to neighboring jurisdictions in Virginia.”
Comparing benefits between the public and private sector is difficult. Nationwide, private industry paid workers 43 percent on top of salary for benefits, according to recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But the bureau cautions against direct comparison between the public and private sectors, because contribution percentages differ between occupation types, which in turn differ between sectors.
Learn more about city compensation at www.alexandriava.gov/6436.