I rummaged through the Charlotte Observer’s online Data Center last night and downloaded the latest N.C. government salary database (current as of March 6, 2012). Here are a few of my discoveries:
- The database includes over 93,700 full- and part-time employees. It does not include include public school employees, General Assembly employees, University System employees or UNC Hospitals employees.
- According to the database, the state of North Carolina employs two individuals in their 90s: a physician (90-years-old) and a security guard (95-years-old). In addition, the state employs 68 workers in their 80s and 774 individuals who are between 70- and 79-years-old.
- Six 16-year-olds share the title of youngest state employee. Four of the six are hourly workers for the Division of Cultural Resources.
- The highest paid state employee is the State Investment Officer, who receives a salary of $320,000 a year. The largest change in pay went to one of his colleagues in the Treasurer’s Office, an investment director who (courtesy of a grade-band transfer) received a $102,000 salary increase.
- One state employee had an original hire date of April 15, 1953. Six others were also hired in the 1950s.
- Over 18,000 are classified as a “new hire.”
- The state employs almost 1,500 people named “John” or some variation of the name, over 1,250 people with the last name “Smith,” and approximately 20 John Smiths.
