New York State Raises Pay for More than 2,000 Employees in Traineeships

As part of what New York Gov. Kathy Hochul described as a reflection of her “commitment to affordability” for the state’s employees and their families, she has announced a series of pay raises for roughly $2,100 state employees working in professional traineeships.

According to a Nov. 7 announcement from Gov. Hochul’s office, employees in traineeships across 46 New York state agencies will receive pay increases—effective immediately—of either 5.7% or 11.6%, depending on their title.

The increases will raise the salary for those in a Trainee 1 title from Grade 13 ($49,363 annually) to Grade 14 ($52,198), according to Gov. Hochul’s office, noting that salaries will also increase for those in a Trainee 2 title, from Grade 14 ($52,198) to Grade 16 ($58,247).

“Traineeships are used by various state agencies for entry-level professional positions to provide on-the-job training and hands-on experience while individuals acquire necessary baseline skills,” the statement read, adding that professional traineeships typically last two years, with trainees receiving salary increases based on performance and achieving milestones.

“Every New Yorker deserves a strong, stable and equitable state government. We count on our state workers to deliver the vital services we rely on every day,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “These pay increases will allow us to retain and attract our state agency and government employees, so that we can continue our mission to bring the highest quality support New Yorkers expect and deserve, now and into the future.”

Overall, more than 280 trainee titles will be impacted, including specialty and language-related titles, according to Gov. Hochul’s office, noting that job titles utilizing traineeship paths include human resources specialist, administrative specialist and contract management specialist, for example. A number of New York state agencies currently have the largest number of eligible positions, including the Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Office of Mental Health and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

In a statement, New York State Public Employees Federation President Wayne Spence commended Gov. Hochul for “continuing to invest in the state workforce and recognizing the value of competitive salaries as a recruitment and retention tool,” calling the salary increases a “good first step” toward aligning New York public sector salaries with the private sector.

“It’s critical that we address chronic understaffing,” said Spence, “and we look forward to the continued review of compensation for state employees as a tool to bolster our ranks and strengthen our workforce.”