1. A. Agency Heads Covered by the Agency Head Salary Commission

   The compensation of agency heads covered by the Agency Head Salary Commission is governed by the Commission and the State Fiscal Accountability Authority.

2. B. Executive Compensation System

   1. 1. Hiring Salaries for Employees in the Executive Compensation System

      1. a. Hiring at the Minimum - An employee must be paid at least the minimum of the State salary range for the position.
      2. b. Hiring Above the Minimum - An employee may be hired at a salary up to the midpoint of the State salary range for the position if circumstances warrant such approval. The Department of Administration may authorize payment of a salary above the midpoint of the State salary range for the position based on written justification submitted by the agency.
      3. c. Entry into the Executive Compensation System - Upon movement into the new position, the employee is eligible for up to a 15% salary increase or up to the midpoint of the State salary range for the new position, whichever is greater. Such increase shall not place the employee’s salary above the maximum of the new State salary range. The Department of Administration may authorize exceptions based on written justification submitted by the agency.

   2. 2. Salary Increases for Employees in the Executive Compensation System

      1. a. Written justification for awarding salary increases shall be maintained by the agency.

      2. b. In-Range Increases

         1. (1) Legislative Increase - An annual pay increase shall be provided to the Executive Compensation System employees in accordance with the provisions of the annual Appropriation Act.
         2. (2) Performance Increase - An agency may increase an employee’s salary based upon performance in accordance with Section 8-1-160 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Such an increase shall be determined by the agency. A performance increase shall not place an employee’s salary above the maximum of the State salary range.

      3. c. Salary Increases Upon Promotion

         1. (1) Upon promotion, an employee’s salary must be at least the minimum of the State salary range for the position to which promoted.
         2. (2) Upon promotion, an employee’s salary may be increased up to 15% or up to the midpoint of the State salary range for the position to which promoted, whichever is greater. Such increase shall not place the employee’s salary above the maximum of the new State salary range. The Department of Administration may authorize exceptions based on written justification submitted by the agency.

      4. d. Salary Increases Upon Upward Reevaluation

         1. (1) When an occupied position is reevaluated and is assigned a higher State salary range, the employee’s salary must be at least the minimum of the new State salary range.
         2. (2) Upon an upward reevaluation, an employee’s salary may be increased up to 15% or up to the midpoint of the State salary range, whichever is greater. Such increase shall not place the employee’s salary above the maximum of the new State salary range.

   3. 3. Salary Decreases for Employees in the Executive Compensation System

      1. a. Written justification for effecting any salary decrease shall be maintained by the agency.
      2. b. Performance Decrease - An agency may decrease an employee’s salary based upon performance in accordance with Section 8-1-160 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Performance decreases may not place an employee’s salary below the minimum of the State salary range. Performance decreases must be based on the results of an Employee Performance Management System (EPMS) evaluation, and the salary decrease shall be determined by the agency.

      3. c. Salary Decreases Upon Demotion or Downward Reevaluation

         1. (1) Voluntary Reason - An employee, who is voluntarily demoted to a position with a lower State salary range or who voluntarily has his position reevaluated to a lower State salary range, may at the discretion of the agency head or his designee, be paid at any salary equal to or below the current salary. However, the salary must be within the lower State salary range, and the employee must sign a written statement indicating agreement to the salary decrease. The signed document with justification should be maintained by the agency.
         2. (2) Disciplinary or Performance Reason - An employee who, as the result of a disciplinary action or an unsatisfactory rating on an EPMS evaluation, has his position reevaluated to a lower State salary range or is demoted to a position with a lower State salary range, may, at the discretion of the agency head, be paid at any salary within the lower State salary range provided the salary is equal to or below the current salary, but must be within the lower State salary range.

         3. (3) Involuntary or Non-Disciplinary Reason - When a covered employee is demoted due to involuntary or non-disciplinary reasons or when an occupied position is reevaluated to a lower State salary range for these reasons, the employee’s salary shall not be reduced for a period of six months from the date of the demotion or downward reevaluation unless an exception is approved by the Department of Administration. After the expiration of the six-month period, with the approval of the agency head or his designee, the employee’s salary may be reduced no more than 15% or to the midpoint of the State salary range, whichever is lower. An employee exempt from the State Employee Grievance Procedure Act, who is involuntarily demoted or whose position is downwardly reevaluated may have his salary reduced no more than 15% or to the midpoint of the pay State salary range, whichever is lower, immediately following the demotion or downward reevaluation.

            If the employee’s salary is allowed to remain above the maximum of the lower State salary range for the position, the employee shall not be eligible for pay increases unless:

         4. (a) Subsequent pay adjustments establish the maximum of the State salary range above the employee’s rate of pay; or
         5. (b) The employee is subsequently promoted, or his position is reevaluated and his current salary is below the maximum of the State salary range for the position.

3. C. Academic Personnel

   1. 1. Hiring Salaries for Employees in the Category of Academic Personnel

      Agencies may determine hiring salaries for unclassified employees in the category of academic personnel. Agencies should consider comparable positions and market data for the occupational area when setting initial hiring salaries for employees in this category.

   2. 2. Salary Increases for Employees in the Category of Academic Personnel

      1. a. Agencies shall develop written policies to govern the administration of salary increases for academic personnel in unclassified positions. Written justification for awarding salary increases shall be maintained by the agency.
      2. b. A legislative increase shall be provided to academic personnel in accordance with the provisions of the annual Appropriation Act.

      3. c. Agencies may award a salary increase of up to 15% for any of the reasons listed below. For an increase of more than 15%, the agency must submit written justification to DSHR for approval.

         1. (1) The acquisition of additional skills or knowledge directly related to the job;
         2. (2) The assignment of additional job duties or responsibilities;
         3. (3) The retention of an employee who has a bona fide job offer from an employer, either within or outside of State government. For an increase of more than 15%, the employee must have a bona fide job offer and the request must be submitted to DSHR for approval. An employee shall receive no more than one retention increase in a one-year period;
         4. (4) The need to address internal equity or equity with the external market;
         5. (5) Promotion to a higher-level position - The agency shall determine whether the new position has a higher level of job duties or responsibilities than the former position; or
         6. (6) Assignment of higher-level job duties or responsibilities as defined by the agency which results in a change in unclassified State title.
      4. d. As provided in an agency’s faculty promotion policy, the agency may develop policies for rank promotions for faculty. Such increases shall be determined by the agency.
      5. e. A performance increase may be awarded to an employee in accordance with Section 8-1-160 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Such increases shall be determined by the agency.

   3. 3. Demotions and Salary Decreases for Employees in the Category of Academic Personnel

      1. a. Performance or Disciplinary Decrease - An agency may decrease an employee’s salary based upon performance or disciplinary reasons. Performance decreases should be based on the results of a performance evaluation. Any salary decrease shall be determined by the agency.

      2. b. Demotion and Assignment of Lower-Level Responsibilities

         1. (1) Voluntary Reason - An employee, who is voluntarily demoted or is voluntarily assigned to lower-level responsibilities within his current position, may be paid at a rate which is agreed upon by the employee and the agency provided the employee signs a written statement indicating agreement to the salary decrease. The signed document should be maintained by the agency.
         2. (2) Involuntary Reason - An employee, who is involuntarily demoted or assigned lower-level responsibilities, shall not have his salary reduced by more than 15%. For a decrease of more than 15%, the agency must submit written justification to DSHR for approval.

      Agencies shall develop written policies to govern the administration of salary decreases for academic personnel. Written justification for effecting any salary decrease shall be maintained by the agency.

   4. 4. Administrative Salary Adjustment

      Institutions of higher learning may award administrative salary adjustments to unclassified academic personnel during periods of time when they are assigned additional administrative responsibilities related to their role as Dean, Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, or Department Chairman. Administrative salary adjustments are not considered part of the employee’s base salary. An agency may award an administrative salary adjustment of up to 15%. For an increase of more than 15% or for an increase related to administrative responsibilities other than those listed above, the agency must submit written justification to DSHR for approval.

   5. 5. Summer Employment for Academic Personnel of State Institutions of Higher Learning

      1. a. Summer employment is not considered dual employment, which covers additional compensation earned during an employee’s base period of employment. Therefore, summer employment may occur over any specified period of time between May and September of a calendar year.
      2. b. All institutions of higher learning should develop policies and procedures for governing academic personnel who are teaching summer sessions outside of their base period of employment. Institutions of higher learning should consider comparable positions and market data for the occupational area when determining compensation for summer teaching. The rate of pay should be comparable to the preceding academic year and may not exceed 40% of the employee’s annualized salary. Written justification for any exceptions should be submitted to DSHR for approval.
      3. c. Academic personnel shall be compensated at the same rate of pay as the immediately preceding academic year for sponsored research or other activities performed during the summer months (between academic years) which are not related to a regular summer session.
      4. d. Institutions of higher learning shall maintain records of all agreements pertaining to summer employment.

4. D. Unclassified Other

   1. 1. Unclassified Other (Agency Heads Not Covered By the Agency Head Salary Commission)

      Agency heads not covered by the Agency Head Salary Commission shall have their salary established in accordance with relevant legislation.

   2. 2. Unclassified Other (Teachers)

      Agencies shall pay all teachers the appropriate salary and any increases provided by the salary schedule of the school district in which the agency is located.

   3. 3. Unclassified Other (Non-Teachers)

      1. a. Hiring Salaries for Employees in the Category of Unclassified Other (Non-Teachers)

         Agencies may determine hiring salaries for employees in the category of unclassified other (non-teachers). Agencies should consider comparable positions and market data for the occupational area when setting hiring salaries for employees in these unclassified positions.

      2. b. Salary Increases for Employees in the Category of Unclassified Other (Non-Teachers)

         1. (1) Written justification for awarding salary increases shall be maintained by the agency.
         2. (2) A legislative increase shall be provided to employees in the category of unclassified other (non-teachers) in accordance with the provisions of the annual Appropriation Act.

         3. (3) Agencies may award a salary increase of up to 15% for any of the reasons listed below. For an increase of more than 15%, the agency must submit written justification to DSHR for approval.

            1. (a) The acquisition of additional skills or knowledge directly related to the job;
            2. (b) The assignment of additional job duties or responsibilities;
            3. (c) The retention of an employee who has a bona fide job offer from an employer, either within or outside of State government. For an increase of more than 15%, the employee must have a bona fide job offer and the request must be submitted to DSHR for approval. An employee shall receive no more than one retention increase in a one-year period;
            4. (d) The need to address internal equity or equity with the external market;
            5. (e) Promotion to a higher-level position. The agency shall determine whether the new position has a higher level of job duties or responsibilities than the former position; or
            6. (f) Assignment of higher-level job duties or responsibilities which results in a change in unclassified State title.
         4. (4) A performance increase may be awarded to an employee in accordance with Section 8-1-160 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Such increases shall be determined by the agency.

      3. c. Demotions and Salary Decreases for Employees in the Category of Unclassified Other (Non-Teachers)

         1. (1) Performance Decrease - An agency may decrease an employee’s salary based upon performance in accordance with Section 8-1-160 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Performance decreases must be based on the results of an Employee Performance Management System (EPMS) evaluation, and the salary decrease shall be determined by the agency.

         2. (2) Demotion or Assignment of Lower-Level Responsibilities

            1. (a) Voluntary Reason - An employee, who is demoted or is voluntarily assigned to lower-level responsibilities within his current position, may be paid at a rate which is agreed upon by the employee and the agency provided the employee signs a written statement indicating agreement to the salary decrease. The signed document should be maintained by the agency.

            2. (b) Involuntary Reason —

               1. i. Disciplinary or Performance Reason - An employee who, as the result of a disciplinary action or unsatisfactory rating on an EPMS evaluation, is demoted or assigned lower-level responsibilities, shall not have his salary reduced by more than 15%. For a decrease of more than 15%, the agency must submit written justification to DSHR for approval.

                  ii. An employee, who is involuntarily demoted or assigned lower-level responsibilities, shall not have his salary reduced by more than 15% immediately following the demotion or assignment of lower-level responsibilities.

                  For a decrease of more than 15%, the agency must submit written justification to DSHR for approval.

         Agencies shall develop written policies to govern the administration of salary decreases for employees in the category of unclassified other (non-teachers). Written justification for effecting any salary decrease shall be maintained by the agency.

HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 7, Issue No. 6, eff June 24, 1983; State Register Volume 8, Issue No. 6, eff June 22, 1984; State Register Volume 11, Issue No. 5, eff May 22, 1987; State Register Volume 18, Issue No. 2, eff February 25, 1994; State Register Volume 19, Issue No. 6, eff June 23, 1995; State Register Volume 26, Issue No. 1, eff January 25, 2002; State Register Volume 34, Issue No. 5, eff May 28, 2010; State Register Volume 40, Issue No. 10, eff October 28, 2016; SCSR 48-9, eff September 27, 2024.