IllinoisOpenGovBlog

Locksmiths Take Home $54K Salaries

2010-08-05T15:20:33Z

The State of Illinois hired 33 locksmiths in calendar year 2008 for $1,786,125 in combined total wages. Of the 33 locksmiths, 2 were hired by the Department of Human Services, 30 were hired by the Department of Corrections, and 1 was hired by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The highest paid locksmith took home a $78,409 salary while the the average salary was $54,125. This contrasts with the $35,980 mean salary the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports for all locksmiths in Illinois for 2008, 50% less than government-hired locksmiths.

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Payroll" and search "Corrections Locksmith" and "Locksmith" in the "Position" field.

$2.5M for State Clinical Psychologists

2010-08-04T15:58:54Z

The State of Illinois hired 33 clinical psychologists in calendar year 2008 for $2,516,451 in combined total wages. Of the 33 clinical psychologists, 32 were hired by the Department of Human Services and 1 was hired by the Department of Corrections. The highest paid clinical psychologist took home a $94,456 salary while the the average salary was $76,256. This is in contrast to the $70,220 average salary the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports for all clinical psychologists in Illinois for 2008.

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Payroll" and search "Clinical Psychologist" in the "Position" field.

Electricians Cost State $7 Million

2010-08-03T15:18:11Z

The State of Illinois hired 107 electricians in fiscal year 2008 for $7,370,091 in combined total wages. The average salary was $68,879 while the highest paid electrician made $110,251. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, the average salary for an electrician in Illinois for 2008 was $67,250. The Illinois Department of Central Management Services explains the role of an electrician as one who "performs journeyman electrical work; constructs, installs, alters, maintains and repairs electrical systems, equipment and fixtures; may instruct or supervise a group of helpers of inmates in performing or assisting in similar tasks."

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Payroll" and search "Electrician" in the "Position" field.

State Nutritionists Make 6.3% More than Private Sector Counterparts

2010-08-02T18:57:51Z

The Illinois Department of Human Services hired ten nutritionists in fiscal year 2008 for $543,117 in combined total wages. The average salary for a nutritionist was $54,311 while the highest paid nutritionist took home a $65,165 salary.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics website shows the mean salary for a nutritionist in 2008 in Illinois was $51,070, a 6.3% decrease from the mean salary for a government-hired nutritionist. According the to the Illinois Central Management Services website, government nutritionists "provide professional nutrition, dietetic and food service program coordination, evaluation, consultation, technical assistance and in-service training to institutions, facilities or agencies within specifically assigned geographical area, region, or program."

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Payroll" and search "Nutritionist" in the "Position" field.

Registered Nurses Paid More Than $68K

2010-07-28T15:08:50Z

The state of Illinois hired 910 registered nurses in fiscal year 2008 for $62,742,469 in combined total wages. The average salary was $68,947 while the highest paid registered nurse made $188,009. The Bureau of Labor Statistics website shows the mean salary for a registered nurse in Illinois was $65,130.

Our IllinoisOpenGov.org website distinguishes between "Registered Nurse I" and "Registered Nurse II." According to the Illinois Department of Central Management Services website, those working under the title Registered Nurse I are "responsible for assigned nursing care activities in a patient, residential or health care unit, utilizing professional training and experience in the field of nursing" while a Registered Nurse II "utilizes professional training and expertise in the field of nursing to assure that other personnel assigned to patient residential or health care functions correctly carry out assigned duties."

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, click on "Payroll" and search "Registered Nurse I" and "Registered Nurse II" in the "Position" field.

State Hires 22 Receptionists

2010-07-27T15:44:10Z

The State of Illinois hired 22 receptionists in fiscal year 2008 for $657,353.22 in combined total wages. Of the 22, 14 were titled "receptionist," 4 were titled "clerk typist/receptionist," 2 were titled "office receptionist," and 1 was titled "receptionist-secretary." The highest paid receptionist made $49,972 while the average receptionist took home a $29,879 salary. Of the 22 receptionists, 4 were employed by the Governor's office. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, the mean salary for "receptionists and information clerks" in Illinois was $25,440.

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, click on "Payroll" and search "receptionist," "clerk typist/receptionist," "office receptionist," and "receptionist-secretary" in the "Position" field.

Day Care License Representatives Paid $63K Salaries

2010-07-26T21:51:47Z

The State of Illinois paid 167 Day Care License Representatives $10,585,758 in total wages during fiscal year 2008. The average salary was $63,387.72, and the highest paid License Representative received $73,395. According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services website, License Representatives determine "compliance with the Child Care Act of 1969 and standards set forth [in the law]."

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov website, click on "Payroll" and search "Day Care" in the "Position" field.

Polygraph Examiners Paid $83K Salary

2010-07-26T14:47:44Z

The Illinois Department of State Police hired 8 polygraph examiners in fiscal year 2008 for a total of $667,324.10 in combined total wages. The average polygraph examiner made $83,415.50 while the highest paid polygraph examiner took home an $85,949 salary. 7 of the 8 polygraph examiners had an annual salary higher than $80,000. According to the Illinois Department of Central Management Services website, a polygraph examiner "regularly performs the most complex detection of deception work involving polygraph examinations and interrogations with multiple subjects, multiple issues, or high public exposure, confidential and sensitive external agency internal investigations, and examinations of major crime figures, position of public trust such as law enforcement personnel or other public figures."

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, click on "Payroll" and search "Polygraph Examiner" in the "Position" field.

Tinsmith Paid $87K Salary

2010-07-23T16:01:12Z

The Illinois Department of Human services paid one tinsmith $87,045 in fiscal year 2008. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website, the average wage for a tinsmith in the Illinois private sector is $59,670, 31% lower than the State's wage. Interestingly, tinsmiths in Illinois have the 3rd highest average wage in the nation, after Nevada and Alaska.

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov website, click on "Payroll" and search "Tinsmith" in the "Position" field.

State Social Historians Bring Home $46K Salary

2010-07-23T15:28:03Z

The Office of the State Appellate Defender hired six social historians in fiscal year 2008 for $278,278 in combined total wages. The average salary was $46,379.67 while the highest paid social historian made $57,569. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the mean salary for a historian in Illinois was $45,900. A description for the job of social historian could not be found on the Office of the State Appellate Defender's website.

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Payroll" and search "Social Historian" in the "Position" field.

Library Specialists Paid $63K Salaries

2010-07-21T15:21:41Z

The State of Illinois paid 11 Library Specialists $694,395 in combined wages during fiscal year 2008. The average salary was $63,126, and the highest paid specialist received $67,724. According to the Illinois Secretary of State website, Library Specialists perform "professional librarian work in one of the professional library skill areas such as original cataloguing, patron reference work, library materials selection or other equivalent functions".

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov website, go to "Payroll" and search "Library Specialist" in the "Position" field.

Thousands Spent on Printing of Pens

2010-07-20T20:29:43Z

The State of Illinois spent $6,795 on the "printing of pens" in fiscal year 2009 by Global Printing and Graphics. Between fiscal years 2008 and 2009, the State spent $9,294 on products and services from Global Printing and Graphics, including printing letterhead and printing of business cards. As we have blogged about before, the State of Illinois also paid over $5,000 to Jansco Inc to "Imprint -Pens."

To find this on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Checks to Businesses & People" and search "Global Printing and Graphics" in the "Vendor" field.

$677K to Dental Assistants

2010-07-19T16:55:35Z

The State of Illinois hired 18 dental assistants in fiscal year 2008 for a total of $677,595 in combined total wages. The highest salary was $46,707 while the average salary was $37,644.17. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics website, the mean salary for a dental assistant in Illinois was $33,170. Nine of the dental assistants hired by the state worked for the Department of Corrections, eight worked for the Department of Human Services, and one worked for the Department of Juvenile Justice.

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, click on "Payroll" and search "Dental Assistant" in the "Position" field.

Cincinnati Vendors Get $11 Million in Illinois

2010-07-16T16:41:17Z

Over $11 million from the State of Illinois went to vendors located in Cincinnati, Ohio in fiscal years 2007 and 2008. Included in the $11,737,442 were $8,897,052 to First Transit Inc. for "Prof and Artistic Services," $34,055 to Crowe Horwath LLP for "Expert Testimony," and $29,479 to a Cincinnati Office Depot for multifold paper towels.

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org website, go to "Checks to Businesses and People" and search "Cincinnati" in the "City" field.

State Hires Nuclear Safety Inspectors for $635K

2010-07-15T19:56:04Z

The State of Illinois hired 9 nuclear safety inspectors in fiscal year 2008 for $635,997 in combined total wages. The average nuclear safety inspector took home an annual salary of $70,666.33 while the highest paid inspector made $73,403.

To find this information on our IllinoisOpenGov.org, go to "Payroll" and search "nuclear safety inspector" in the "Vendor" field.