The Sacramento County Attorneys’ Association (SCAA), representing attorneys primarily employed at the Sacramento District Attorney and Public Defenders Offices, has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with attorney wages and informed the County of its intention to strike.
In response, Sacramento County expresses its appreciation for the dedication and hard work of its attorneys while conveying deep disappointment with the union’s intention to strike and unwillingness to discuss a successor agreement.
A contractual agreement, effective January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025, was mutually agreed upon by both parties.
This agreement is available online and included significant increases in compensation ranging from 14% - 15%, along with a commitment from the County to contribute an additional 2% of salary (for a total of 3%) to attorneys' deferred compensation.
Under the terms of that negotiated agreement, attorney salaries are:
- Principal attorneys (56 employees) can earn up to approximately $247,000 annually
- Level V attorneys (111 employees) can earn up to approximately $225,000 annually
- Level IV attorneys (70 employees) can earn up to approximately $204,000 annually.
The salaries above do not include County costs for pensions and various benefits.
The County conducted a comprehensive survey of the labor market, encompassing jurisdictions such as the City/County of San Francisco, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, and Contra Costa County.
Based on this survey, current attorney salaries surpass the median of the labor market.
At the Board of Supervisors meeting on July 23, some members of the Sacramento County Attorneys’ Association questioned the qualifications of recently hired colleagues. The County firmly disagrees with that perspective and is committed to developing staff who will play pivotal roles in the County's future.
The Attorneys’ Association is seeking an additional 5.5% wage increase, on top of the agreed-upon 14-15% increases.
As of June 30, vacancy rates for the three classes were low, compared to the County’s overall vacancy rate of 11.8%:
- Principal attorneys: 1.8%
- Level V attorneys: 3.4%
- Level IV attorneys: 0.7%
The County extended offers on July 9 and reiterated on July 25, 2024, to commence negotiations for the successor agreement in late fall. The union responded that they are not currently interested in discussing a successor agreement.
Sacramento County remains committed to constructive dialogue and looks forward to resolving any outstanding issues through continued negotiations.