Division of Human Resources

Total Compensation

The State of Colorado’s statutory philosophy is to provide prevailing total compensation (competitive or comparable to the market) in order to recruit, retain, and motivate a qualified workforce. The major components of FY08-09 total compensation are summarized, and include pay (official compensation plan), group benefit plans, retirement, performance pay, work-life, premium pay, and paid time-off. The department has developed a strategy that sets the vision and direction for achieving competitive total compensation. A history of benefits and compensation changes to the personnel system is documented in the Total Compensation Time Line. 

Employees may estimate their total compensation by using the My Total Compensation tool on this site. This easy-to-use tool permits employees to estimate the yearly value of the pay, benefits contributions, retirement contributions, various leaves, and other items of value they receive as part of their employment.

Statute created the Total Compensation Advisory Council, annual compensation survey, and mandates a meet and confer process for the survey. The annual compensation survey analyzes published third-party and direct surveys to determine adjustments in salary (pay structure and performance pay) and group benefits. The survey is conducted using methodology established in the FY09-10 survey process.

The survey findings for FY09-10 are published in the August 1 annual compensation survey report, which is updated in December.  Along with the August 1 report, the state personnel director delivers a letter to the Governor and General Assembly, also updated in December, which summarizes key survey findings. The recommendation letter includes potential funding required to implement any recommendations as applicable and distributions of any funding recommendations to salary and benefits. The Compensation Plan section of the Web site contains the official and proposed salary schedules . 

These documents may be presented in PDF format, which requires the Adobe® Reader. 

For more information, contact the Compensation Team.

Email comments to:  Compensation

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My Total Compensation