Press Releases

Today, Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) announced that federal employees in San Luis Obispo County have received a locality pay increase, earning salaries comparable to Los Angeles County workers. In 2018, this represented a 13.1% overall pay increase.

In August, Carbajal wrote to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Pon expressing concerns over the pay disparity between federal employees in SLO County versus Santa Barbara and Kern Counties, and requesting that OPM reconcile this pay difference.

Due to the disparity in wages, federal employees have frequently transferred to other federal jobs for higher pay with lower costs of living, and job postings in SLO County have remained vacant for extended periods of time. Both scenarios have resulted in the loss of qualified federal employees locally and hindered federal services for veterans, seniors, and land management agencies.

Rep. Carbajal said: “This pay adjustment is long overdue. It’s a relief knowing that federal workers in SLO County will be more fairly compensated for their work to help our local veterans and seniors navigate the red tape to receive benefits they’ve earned. With higher costs of living on the Central Coast compared to neighboring counties, we cannot expect to attract top talent when providing less pay. This pay increase means more workers in SLO County to help process VA claims, care for our veterans, and staff helping our seniors with their Medicare and Social Security benefits.”

Paul Worsham, President of the SLO Veterans Services Collaborative said: “The San Luis Obispo Community Based Outpatient Clinic is well run and well respected by local veterans.  However, they've had challenges keeping good people on staff, because the pay for the same job in surrounding counties is substantially higher.  Thanks to local federal employees, Veterans, concerned citizens and the help of Salud Carbajal our Congressman, we're about to correct this inequitable situation.  All I can say is kudos and job well done.” 

Sandra Mathias, President of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, SLO County Chapter said: “This is wonderful news.  It is much needed and will benefit current federal employees and attract federal agencies currently servicing San Luis Obispo to relocate for better service to the community and long needed parity for employees. I want to thank Congressman Carbajal for his support.”

Currently, roughly 150 federal employees are employed in SLO County in a number of federal agencies including the VA Administration, the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic, Social Security Administration, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management.

###