The State Controller’s Office, each year, releases self-reported government salary data for cities and counties. 54 of California’s 58 counties reported this year and Nevada County’s overall average, for 2015, was around 49-thousand dollars a year, ranking 29th. The County’s Human Resources Director, Charlie Wilson, says says, despite the higher-than-average cost-of-living here, they try to keep the pay rate competitive…

click to listen to Charlie Wilson

Wilson says it’s also helped that the county has not had to deal with annual state budget cuts in recent years, which had necessitated layoffs. He says since a peak of around 1050 employees, in 2002 and 2003, they now have around 780…

click to listen to Charlie Wilson

Wilson says Nevada County normally has around 30 to 35 vacant positions, which they actively recruit for and he’s seen a spike in interest in the last couple of years. Meanwhile, Grass Valley’s average government salary is also around 49-thousand dollars. Placer County’s is over 67-thousand, which is 7th highest in the state.