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Two human resource workers could do roughly the same job — one for the state and one in the private sector — but when their paycheck comes, chances are the state worker's check would be 20 percent less.
On average, state employees get paid more than 10 percent less than those doing similar work in the private sector, according to a study presented to legislators Tuesday.
But while the state workers lag behind in their take-home pay, inexpensive health care, a generous retirement account, and other benefits make up some, but not all, of the disparity.
The study, commissioned by the state Department of Human Resource Management, has state officials and legislators asking whether it's time to change the "mix" between salary and benefits.
"On the whole, I think in total compensation, the state is doing OK. What I hope is we can use this data to analyze the mix," said Jeff Herring, director of state human resources. "We're over the average in benefits, we're under the average in salary and I think the next dialogue needs to be about how to [craft] the best policy to attract and retain workers."
On average, state workers earn about $45,000 a year, about $9,000 a year below the median salary for private sector workers doing comparable work.
With Utah's benefits factored in — which were better than three-fourths of the private sector employers — the total compensation for a state worker came to $76,287, compared to the median private sector of $82,547.
The study found that the more the state workers made, the narrower the gap between the public and private sector, whereas the gap was much wider for state workers at the lower end of the pay scale.
That could make it harder for the state to recruit or retain young workers, who might not be swayed by a good benefits package and could make considerably more in the private sector, said Neville Kenning, vice president of public sector consulting for the Hay Group, which conducted the study.
Kory Cox, an employee relations representative with the Utah Public Employees Association, said the study highlights the need for the state to start addressing the salary disparity as the economy recovers.
"Salary is on the top of everyone's list," Cox said is the message he hears from state workers.
Those employees last got a pay raise in 2008, they're paying more for their health benefits and pension benefits for new workers have changed, but the study shows there is a real gap that needs to be addressed.
But Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland, said he doubted the validity of the study.
"It seems like we paid a lot of money to high-priced consultants to get the answers Human Resources wanted," Dougall said.
He said the study compared state workers' salaries to other "bloated government agencies and big business."
"From what I was presented, I don't believe it fairly represents the Utah employment market," Dougall said. "I don't have the sense it was a fair study."
Senate Majority Whip Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said the mix between employees' salaries and benefits is a "matter of discussion," but he said he thinks it's appropriate that state workers make less than those in the private sector because the state workers have more job security.
"I hear from my constituents that they're upset about the benefit packages that the private sector can't even come close to making," he said. "There's expected to be at least some gap [in salaries] because of the security issue."
Several jobs saw larger disparities between state workers versus private sector employees. For example attorneys or those doing legal work for the state make about 20 percent less than those in the private sector; the same holds true for human resource jobs. Nurses, therapists, custodians lab workers and clerks all make 16-18 percent less than those in the private sector, the study found.
Only a few sectors — wildlife resource workers, laundry workers, prison guards and vocational therapists — make more than those in the private sector.
The study compared the salary and benefits for state workers against those of 63 private sector companies of varying sizes.
Twitter: @RobertGehrke