The 2025 Maryland state employee raises mark a significant investment in workforce compensation, featuring a 3% COLA, step increments, and merit-based adjustments, finalized under Governor Wes Moore’s leadership.
Overview of Maryland State Employee Raises in 2025
The 2025 Maryland state employee raises include a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) effective July 1, 2024, and step increments starting January 1, 2025. Eligible employees will receive these increases based on their entry-on-duty dates. The COLA applies to all regular state employees, while step increments vary by job class and years of service. Additionally, merit-based increases of 2% for Executive Pay Plan (EPP) employees were implemented in FY 2025. This comprehensive compensation package aims to enhance employee retention and address inflationary pressures. The agreement, ratified with over 99% approval, reflects a strong commitment to fair compensation for Maryland’s public workforce.
2025 Contract Signing and Ratification
Over 99% of eligible state employees ratified the new three-year contract, finalized with Governor Wes Moore in a signing ceremony, marking a historic agreement for Maryland’s workforce.
Details of the New Three-Year Contract
The new three-year contract includes a 3% COLA effective July 1, 2024, and step increments starting January 1, 2025. It covers salary scales, merit increases, and special adjustments for specific agencies, ensuring equitable compensation across the state workforce. The agreement reflects a commitment to employee satisfaction and retention, addressing cost-of-living pressures while rewarding experience and performance. This structured approach ensures transparency and fairness, aligning with Maryland’s budgetary priorities for FY 2025.
AFSCME Council 3 and Governor Wes Moore’s Agreement
The agreement between AFSCME Council 3 and Governor Wes Moore finalized a three-year contract for Maryland state employees, with over 99% of eligible workers voting in favor. This contract ensures significant salary adjustments, including COLAs and step increments, to address rising living costs and reward employee dedication. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to fair compensation and workforce stability, aligning with Maryland’s budget priorities for FY 2025. This agreement underscores the state’s effort to maintain a competitive and supportive environment for its employees.
Voting Results and Employee Approval
The ratification of the 2025 contract saw an overwhelming majority of AFSCME Council 3 members voting in favor, with over 99% approval. This decisive result underscores the strong support among state employees for the agreed terms. The mail ballot vote demonstrated a clear consensus, reflecting confidence in the negotiated benefits. The high approval rate highlights the collaborative effort between AFSCME leaders and Governor Wes Moore to address workforce needs. Employees expressed satisfaction with the proposed salary adjustments, COLAs, and step increments, which aim to enhance compensation and recognize their dedication. This outcome marks a significant milestone in ensuring fair pay and fostering a positive work environment for Maryland state employees.
Salary Increases in Fiscal Year 2025
A 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for most state employees is effective July 1, 2024, with additional step increments and merit increases allocated in the FY 2025 budget.
Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs)
A 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) was approved for Maryland state employees, effective July 1, 2024. This adjustment applies to most state workers, including those in the Executive Pay Plan (EPP). The COLA is designed to help employees keep pace with inflation and maintain their purchasing power. Eligibility is determined based on the employee’s entry-on-duty date, with some receiving the adjustment in January 2025 instead. Contractual employees, however, are not eligible for this COLA. The COLA is part of a broader effort to ensure fair compensation and support the state’s workforce. This adjustment aligns with the fiscal year 2025 budget, which prioritizes employee compensation.
Merit Increases and Step Increments
Eligible Maryland state employees will receive merit increases and step increments in FY 2025. Executive Pay Plan (EPP) employees are set to receive a 2% merit increase effective July 1, 2024. Additionally, regular state employees will receive step increments based on their entry-on-duty (EOD) dates, with adjustments applied either on July 1, 2024, or January 1, 2025. These increases aim to reward experience and performance while ensuring fair compensation. Contractual employees, however, are not eligible for these increments. The combination of merit increases and step adjustments reflects the state’s commitment to recognizing employee contributions and maintaining competitive pay structures. This approach supports workforce retention and growth.
Special Salary Adjustments for Specific Agencies
In FY 2025, certain Maryland state agencies will receive special salary adjustments to address specific workforce needs. The Maryland State Police (MSP) and State Law Enforcement employees are eligible for enhanced salary scales, effective July 1, 2025. MSP Aviation personnel will also see targeted pay adjustments to align with industry standards. These adjustments aim to ensure competitive compensation for critical roles. Additionally, the University System of Maryland and select state police employees will receive specialized salary scales, reflecting their unique responsibilities. These adjustments underscore the state’s focus on retaining skilled personnel in key public safety and education roles. The changes are designed to support recruitment and retention efforts in these vital sectors.
Pay Schedules for 2025
The Maryland state payroll schedule for 2025 includes biweekly and monthly pay dates, starting with a pay period from December 25, 2024, to January 7, 2025, with payments on January 15 and 31, 2025.
The Comptroller of Maryland’s Central Payroll Bureau finalized these schedules, ensuring timely compensation for state employees across all units. These dates apply to both regular and bargaining unit personnel.
Standard and Bargaining Unit Salary Scales
The 2025 Maryland state employee salary scales are structured into grades and steps, ensuring equitable compensation across all roles. Effective July 1, 2024, standard salary scales apply to all regular state employees, while bargaining unit scales are tailored for union-represented workers. These scales reflect the 3% COLA and step increments, with specific adjustments for law enforcement and state police. The bargaining unit scales, as part of the AFSCME Council 3 agreement, include merit-based increases and seniority steps. Salary structures are updated annually, with detailed grade and step breakdowns published for transparency. This ensures fair and consistent pay progression for all employees, aligning with the FY 2025 budget allocations for workforce compensation.
Biweekly and Monthly Pay Dates
For Fiscal Year 2025, Maryland state employees will receive biweekly paychecks on specific dates, ensuring consistent payment schedules. Monthly pay dates are also outlined, aligning with standard payroll cycles. The Comptroller of Maryland’s Central Payroll Bureau updates these schedules annually, with key dates like December 25, 2024, marking the start of the 2025 pay period. Employees can expect biweekly payments every other Wednesday, while monthly payments are distributed at the end of each month. These schedules are meticulously planned to ensure timely compensation, reflecting the state’s commitment to maintaining financial stability for its workforce throughout 2025.
Payroll Schedule Updates
The 2025 payroll schedule for Maryland state employees reflects updated pay dates and procedural enhancements. Key adjustments include the alignment of biweekly and monthly pay cycles with the new fiscal year. The Comptroller of Maryland’s Central Payroll Bureau has finalized the schedule, ensuring timely disbursement of salaries. Notable updates include the start of the 2025 pay period on December 25, 2024, with the first biweekly payment issued on January 15, 2025. These changes aim to streamline payroll processing and maintain consistency throughout the year. Employees are encouraged to refer to the official payroll calendar for specific payment dates and any additional updates. This ensures transparency and clarity in compensation distribution for 2025.
Budget Allocation for Employee Raises
The FY 2025 Maryland Executive Budget allocates $454.7 million for state employee salary increases, representing the largest share of funding for agreed-upon raises with bargaining units.
Funding for State Employee Salary Increases
The FY 2025 Maryland Executive Budget allocates $454.7 million for state employee salary increases, representing the largest share of funding for agreed-upon raises. This allocation covers a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) effective July 1, 2024, and step increments for eligible employees based on their entry-on-duty date. Additionally, $28.8 million is budgeted for contractual employees to ensure compliance with the state’s minimum wage requirements. The funding also supports merit increases for Executive Pay Plan (EPP) employees, reflecting a commitment to fair compensation. These adjustments aim to maintain competitiveness and recognize employee contributions, ensuring the state workforce remains adequately supported financially. The budget ensures timely implementation of these increases across all agencies.
Impact on State Agencies and Budget Planning
The 2025 salary increases necessitate careful budget adjustments across Maryland state agencies. Agencies must allocate funds to cover the 3% COLA, step increments, and merit raises, ensuring financial stability. The DBM instructs agencies to budget at least $28,800 per contractual FTE in FY 2025 to accommodate wage increases. This requires precise financial planning to avoid operational disruptions. The allocated $454.7 million for salary increases ensures that agencies can implement the raises without compromising essential services. Effective budget management is critical to align expenditures with the enhanced compensation package, maintaining fiscal responsibility while supporting employee welfare. This strategic approach ensures seamless integration of the salary adjustments into agency budgets.
Implementation Timeline
The 2025 Maryland state employee raises are scheduled to be implemented in phases, with key dates including July 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, for salary adjustments;
Key Dates for Salary Adjustments
The 2025 salary adjustments for Maryland state employees are set to begin on July 1, 2024, with a 3% COLA for most employees. Additional increases, including step increments, will take effect on January 1, 2025. These dates ensure that employees receive their raises in a structured manner, aligning with the state’s fiscal calendar; The phased approach helps in managing budget allocations effectively while ensuring employees benefit from timely compensation enhancements. These key dates are crucial for both employees and state agencies to plan their finances accordingly.
Phased Rollout of Increases
The 2025 salary increases for Maryland state employees are being implemented in a phased manner to ensure a smooth transition. The first phase, effective July 1, 2024, includes a 3% COLA for most employees and a 2% merit increase for EPP employees. The second phase, set for January 1, 2025, includes step increments and additional merit-based adjustments. This staggered approach allows the state to manage budget allocations effectively while ensuring employees receive their raises in a timely manner. The phased rollout also helps in aligning salary adjustments with the fiscal year, providing clarity and predictability for both employees and state agencies.
The 2025 Maryland state employee raises, featuring a 3% COLA and step increments, were overwhelmingly approved, reflecting a substantial investment in workforce compensation and morale.
The 2025 Maryland state employee raises are outlined in a new three-year contract signed by Governor Wes Moore and AFSCME Council 3. Over 99% of eligible employees approved the agreement, which includes a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) effective July 1, 2024, and step increments starting January 1, 2025. Additionally, a 2% merit increase was granted to Executive Pay Plan (EPP) employees. Special salary adjustments were made for specific agencies, such as the Maryland State Police. The raises are part of a broader effort to enhance compensation and recognize employee contributions, with funding allocated in the FY 2025 budget to support these increases across state agencies.