April 3, 2025 — It’s that time of year – members will see 3% raises, performance awards, the Higher Education Differential, and location pay increases this month.
Members can look forward to the following:
3% salary increases and performance advances are expected in the April 23 (Administration) and May 1 (Institution) checks.
Click here for the 3% raise payroll bulletin from the Office of the State Comptroller and here for performance advance bulletin.
Performance Awards of $1,500, $3,000 or $4,500 in April 2025 for eligible employees based on a members’ years of service to New York State, not years at top of grade. Twelve to 16 years of service receives $1,500, 17 to 21 gets $3,000 and 22 or more years earns $4,500. Years of state service in other bargaining units are included.
For those who received a performance award in 2024 but do not meet the 12, 17 or 22 years of continuous state service eligibility criteria for 2025, under a negotiated “grandparenting” provision, they will continue to receive their prior performance award as long as they meet the other eligibility criteria. Those in Salary Grade 38 positions can now receive performance awards based on their years of continuous state service criteria.
Payment is expected in the April 17 (Institution) and April 23 (Administration) checks.
There are several payroll bulletins. Click here for more information.
A $600 Higher Education Differential (HED) payable to all members with an associate’s or higher degree or a license issued by the State Education Department. Members who received the HED in 2024 should receive it again in 2025, unless, for example, your relied upon license is no longer valid. If you earned a degree or obtained a license in the last year, contact your HR department to submit proof of eligibility for the HED.
Effective dates for the HED are March 27, 2025, to March 25, 2026 (Administration) and April 3, 2025, to April 1, 2026 (Institution); with corresponding check dates beginning April 23 (Administration) and May 1 (Institution). Delays in agencies getting information to the Office of the State Comptroller can result in later payments, but effective dates remain the same and no money will be lost.
Location Pay will be increased this month as well. The Downstate adjustment will be increased from $3,400 to $4,000 per year and the Mid-Hudson adjustment will be increased from $1,650 to $2,000 per year.
Effective dates for location pay will be March 27 (Administration) and April 3 (Institution); with corresponding check dates of April 23 (Administration) and May 1 (Institution).
See the payroll bulletin here.
Learn more about your contract here.