COLUMBIA, S.C. — Many Richland County full-time employees will get a pay increase under a class and compensation restructuring, the county announced Tuesday.
The increase is for regular, full-time employees. According to officials, the average employee is going to see an annual pay increase of $4,777. Salary changes for eligible employees will begin on December 21, 2023.
“I am proud to see the implementation of salary increases for Richland County employees finally come to fruition,” said Richland County Council Chair Overture Walker in a statement. “This is a win-win for the County and a critical step in Council’s commitment to employee well-being and recognizing those individuals who work tirelessly to serve our communities each and every day.”
The employee changes were recommended by Evergreen Solutions, which was a consulting firm brought in by the county to look at the salaries offered by the company and how they compared to others in the state. The company recommended the salary adjustments to better reflect those offered by neighboring governments and private sector businesses.
The county says the money for the increases has already been appropriated in the county's 2024 fiscal year budget, and will cost $11.2 million annually.
“This is not only an effort to demonstrate employee appreciation, boost morale and job satisfaction but also an endeavor to enhance the quality and effectiveness of services provided by the County,” Richland County Administrator Leonardo Brown said in a statement.
The county said they will release more information about the compensation study and incentives in the coming weeks.