FACT BRIEF

Was 1985 the last time Nevada state employees received a pay raise in excess of 5%?

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

By Todd Butterworth

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YES

In 1985, Nevada state employees received an 11% increase in their overall pay scales. This is the last time such an increase exceeded 5%.

Between 1983 and 2022, state employees experienced 24 years with a pay raise, 13 years without one and three years with a pay cut. Overall, their salaries went up a cumulative 95% during those 40 years. Inflation over this same period was 193.8%.

Nevada state employee pay has fallen behind government positions in nearby states and other Nevada government entities. A 2020 regional salary survey shows the State of Nevada had lower starting and maximum salaries in 26 of the 32 government positions surveyed.

In his 2023 State of the State address, Gov. Joe Lombardo proposed state employee pay increases of 8% in fiscal year 2024 and 4% in fiscal year 2025.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

Nevada Division of Human Resource Management History of pay raises for Nevada state employees

Google Docs Compound pay raise calculation for Nevada state employees (1983-2022)

US Inflation Calculator Find US Dollar's Value from 1913-2022

State of Nevada 2020 Salary & Benefits Survey

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