Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 21 - PUBLIC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES (§§ 21-1-101 — 21-15-113) › Chapter 5 - COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS (§§ 21-5-101 — 21-5-1418) › Subchapter 2 - UNIFORM CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION ACT (§§ 21-5-201 — 21-5-228) › Section 21-5-209 - Compensation plan

(a)
There is established for state agencies covered by this subchapter a compensation plan for the setting of salaries and salary increases, when deserved, of all employees serving in positions covered by this subchapter.
(b)
(1)
No employee shall be paid at a rate of pay higher than the maximum pay level in the grade assigned to his or her class unless otherwise provided for in this subchapter.
(2)
However, an employee presently employed in a position who is being paid at a rate in excess of the maximum for his or her assigned grade may continue to receive his or her rate of pay.
(c)
It is the specific intent of the General Assembly to authorize, in the enactment of the compensation plans, rates of pay for each of the appropriate grades assigned to a class, but it is not the intent that any pay increases shall be automatic or that any employee shall have a claim or a right to pay increases unless the department head of the state agency determines that the employee, by experience, ability, and work performance, is eligible for the increase in pay authorized for the appropriate rate.
(d)
Pay levels established in this subchapter are for compensation management purposes and are not to be construed as a contract, right, or other expectation of actual employee salary determination.
(e)
(1)
The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the General Salaries pay table effective July 1, 2024, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and General Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
GENERAL SALARIES
GS1
$32,405
$42,046
$51,686
GS2
$32,405
$42,046
$51,686
GS3
$32,405
$42,046
$51,686
GS4
$32,405
$42,046
$51,686
GS5
$32,405
$42,046
$51,686
GS6
$36,155
$46,912
$57,668
GS7
$40,340
$52,342
$64,343
GS8
$45,010
$58,401
$71,792
GS9
$50,222
$65,164
$80,105
GS10
$56,039
$72,711
$89,383
GS11
$62,531
$81,134
$99,737
GS12
$69,776
$90,535
$111,293
GS13
$77,862
$101,026
$124,190
GS14
$86,887
$112,736
$138,585
GS15
$96,960
$125,806
$154,652
(2)
The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Information Technology Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2024, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Information Technology Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SALARIES
IT1
$33,403
$43,340
$53,278
IT2
$37,266
$48,352
$59,439
IT3
$41,578
$53,948
$66,317
IT4
$46,391
$60,193
$73,994
IT5
$51,762
$67,161
$82,560
IT6
$57,755
$74,938
$92,120
IT7
$64,445
$83,617
$102,790
IT8
$71,704
$93,035
$114,367
IT9
$80,242
$104,115
$127,987
IT10
$89,541
$116,180
$142,819
IT11
$99,920
$129,647
$159,373
IT12
$111,504
$144,677
$177,850
(3)
The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Medical Professional Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2024, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Medical Professional Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SALARIES
MP1
$63,830
$80,347
$96,864
MP2
$71,403
$90,682
$109,961
MP3
$79,879
$102,325
$124,771
MP4
$89,368
$115,464
$141,559
MP5
$99,991
$130,289
$160,586
MP6
$111,884
$147,016
$182,147
MP7
$125,200
$165,890
$206,580
MP8
$140,109
$187,186
$234,263
MP9
$156,804
$211,215
$265,626
MP10
$175,620
$236,561
$297,501
(4)
The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Senior Executive Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2024, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Senior Executive Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SALARIES
SE1
$108,110
$135,015
$161,920
SE2
$120,543
$146,677
$172,810
SE3
$134,406
$159,053
$183,700
SE4
$149,862
$174,756
$199,650
SE5
$167,096
$194,483
$221,870
(2)
The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Information Technology Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Information Technology Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SALARIES
IT1
$33,403
$40,919
$48,434
IT2
$37,266
$45,651
$54,035
IT3
$41,578
$50,933
$60,288
IT4
$46,391
$56,829
$67,267
IT5
$51,762
$63,408
$75,054
IT6
$57,755
$70,750
$83,745
IT7
$64,445
$78,945
$93,445
IT8
$71,704
$87,837
$103,970
IT9
$80,242
$98,297
$116,351
IT10
$89,541
$109,688
$129,835
IT11
$99,920
$122,402
$144,884
IT12
$111,504
$136,592
$161,681
(3)
The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Medical Professional Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Medical Professional Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL SALARIES
MP1
$63,830
$75,958
$88,058
MP2
$71,403
$85,683
$99,964
MP3
$79,879
$96,654
$113,428
MP4
$89,368
$109,029
$128,690
MP5
$99,991
$122,989
$145,987
MP6
$111,884
$138,736
$165,588
MP7
$125,200
$156,500
$187,800
MP8
$140,109
$176,537
$212,966
MP9
$156,804
$199,140
$241,478
MP10
$175,620
$224,033
$270,455
(4)
The following grades and pay levels shall be authorized for the Senior Executive Salaries pay table, effective July 1, 2017, and thereafter, for the state service for all positions of state agencies covered by this subchapter to which a classification title and Senior Executive Salaries salary grade have been assigned in accordance with this subchapter and the appropriation act of the state agency:
SENIOR EXECUTIVE SALARIES
SE1
$108,110
$127,655
$147,200
SE2
$120,543
$138,822
$157,100
SE3
$134,406
$150,703
$167,000
SE4
$149,862
$165,681
$181,500
SE5
$167,096
$184,398
$201,700
(f)
It is the intent of the General Assembly that the compensation plans in this section shall be implemented and function in compliance with other provisions in this subchapter, the Regular Salary Procedures and Restrictions Act, §§
19-4-1601
and
21-5-101
, and other fiscal control laws of this state, when applicable.
(g)
(1)
Except as provided in subdivision (g)(2) of this section, a payment of salaries shall not be made except in conformity with the maximum pay level assigned to these grades for each year as provided in the appropriation act of the state agency or in this subchapter.
(2)
(A)
With approval of the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in session, the Joint Budget Committee:
(i)
The Governor may establish the salary of an agency director that is up to fifty percent (50%) above the maximum pay level for the grade assigned to the classification;
(ii)
The Office of Personnel Management may establish the salary of a specialized physician position or classification that is up to fifty percent (50%) above the maximum pay level for the grade assigned to the classification; and
(iii)
Salaries established by this section may exceed the maximum pay level for the grade assigned to the classification by no more than twenty-five percent (25%) for no more than ten percent (10%) of the positions authorized in the state agency's appropriation act.
(B)
It is both necessary and appropriate that the General Assembly maintain oversight by requiring prior approval of the Legislative Council or, if the General Assembly is in session, the Joint Budget Committee, as provided by this subsection.
(C)
The requirement of approval by the Legislative Council or the Joint Budget Committee is not a severable part of this section. If the requirement of approval is found unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, the entire section is void.
(h)
The compensation plan and pay tables shall be reviewed by the Office of Personnel Management before each regular session of the General Assembly.
Amended by Act 2024, No. 172,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2024.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 661,§ 3, eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by Act 2021, No. 661,§ 2, eff. 7/1/2021.
Amended by Act 2017, No. 365,§ 14, eff. 7/1/2017.
Acts 1969, No. 199, § 5; 1971, No. 749, § 1; 1973, No. 286, §§ 1, 2; 1974 (Ex. Sess.), No. 39, § 1; 1975, No. 932, § 2; 1977, No. 289, § 1; 1979, No. 3, § 1; 1981, No. 19, § 1; 1983, No. 68, § 1; 1985, No. 101, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, §§ 12-3205, 12-3205n; Acts 1989, No. 793, § 8; 1991, No. 452, § 1; 1991, No. 1148, §§ 4, 14; 1993, No. 770, § 1; 1995, No. 992, § 1; 1997, No. 532, § 1; 1999, No. 813, § 1; 2001, No. 1461, § 3; 2003 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 22, § 1; 2003 (1st Ex. Sess.), No. 22, § 1; 2005, No. 2198, § 1; 2007, No. 375, § 1; 2009, No. 688, § 7.