/PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — State Comptroller Malia M. Cohen released 2025 payroll data self-reported by University of California institutions (University of Californiaor UC) and the California Community College Districts (California Community College Districtsor CCD) on the website Government Compensation in California. The published data covers 451,244 positions, more than $34 billion in salaries and more than $6 billion in retirement and health coverage contributions. Total compensation exceeded $40.1 billion dollars.
The 10 UC campuses and the Office of the President (Office of the President)presented complete reports. Their data covers 357,167 positions, more than $29.2 billion in salaries, and nearly $4.5 billion in retirement and health coverage contributions, for total compensation of more than $33.7 billion. UC institutions have maintained a 100 percent reporting rate since joining the program as voluntary participants in 2013.
Thirty-six of the state’s seventy-three CCDs submitted complete reports. The published data covers 94,077 positions, more than $4.8 billion in salaries and more than $1.5 billion in contributions for retirement and health coverage, reaching a total compensation of more than $6.3 billion. Twenty-six districts did not submit a report and eleven submitted an incomplete report.
“Our public colleges and universities open doors to opportunity, and Californians deserve to know how public funds support that work,” said Comptroller Cohen. “I appreciate the University of California’s continued commitment to comprehensive reporting and encourage all community college districts to do the same. When all institutions participate, the public can see the full investment in the people who keep our campuses running and help our students succeed.”
Among UC campuses, UCLA reported the most positions, with 74,519, followed by UC San Diego with 54,598. Of the CCDs with published data, the Los Angeles Community College District (Los Angeles Community College District) reported the most positions, with 11,182, followed by the Los Ríos Community College District (Los Rios Community College District) with 7,154. The UC data also shows that forty-two of the fifty highest-paid employees worked in medicine. Among the fifteen employees with the highest income, nine worked in the medical field and six in the sports field. The average salary of UC’s ten highest-paid employees increased more than 17 percent over a five-year period, going from $3.14 billion in 2021 to $3.69 billion in 2025.
California law requires cities, counties, and special districts to report compensation data annually to the State Comptroller’s Office (SCO). The SCO also publishes payroll data from state departments and California State University (California State University)and requests voluntary reports from other public entities, including UC institutions and CCDs.
The website Government Compensation in California allows the public to search for salary and benefits information by employer and job title, view results by region, and export custom data and reports.
Notes to the editor on figures: This text retains the original term “billion.” This word belongs to the international short scale. It is equivalent to one billion in the Spanish-speaking system (long scale). Numerically represents the figure (1,000,000,000).
As Chief Fiscal Officer of the world’s fourth largest economy, California State Comptroller Malia M. Cohen independently oversees and manages the state’s financial resources with integrity and transparency to build trust. Comptroller Cohen is responsible for the accountability and disbursement of state financial resources and has independent authority to audit government agencies that use state funds. The comptroller is a member of numerous financial organizations and tax and financial oversight entities, including the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). He also sits on the boards of directors of the country’s two largest public pension funds. Follow the Comptroller on X, Facebook, YouTubea @CAController Instagramand @CaliforniaController.
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