Controller Malia M. Cohen Publishes 2025 Higher Education Payroll Data

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- State Controller Malia M. Cohen published the 2025 self-reported payroll data for University of California (UC) institutions and California Community College Districts (CCD) on the Government Compensation in California website. The published data covers 451,244 positions, more than $34 billion in wages, and over $6 billion in retirement and health contributions. Total compensation exceeded $40.1 billion.

All 10 UC campuses and the Office of the President submitted complete reports. Their data covers 357,167 positions, more than $29.2 billion in wages, and nearly $4.5 billion in retirement and health contributions, for total compensation of over $33.7 billion. UC institutions have maintained a 100 percent reporting rate since joining the program as voluntary participants in reporting year 2013.

Thirty-six of the state's 73 CCD submitted complete reports. Their published data covers 94,077 positions, more than $4.8 billion in wages, and over $1.5 billion in retirement and health contributions, for total compensation of more than $6.3 billion. Twenty-six districts did not file a report, and eleven submitted incomplete reports.

"Our public colleges and universities open doors to opportunity, and Californians deserve to know how public dollars support that work," said Controller Cohen. "I appreciate the University of California's continued commitment to complete reporting and encourage every community college district to do the same. When every institution participates, the public can see the full investment in the people who keep our campuses running and help our students succeed."

Among the UC campuses, UCLA reported the most positions at 74,519, followed by UC San Diego at 54,598. Of the CCD with published data, Los Angeles Community College District reported the most positions at 11,182, followed by Los Rios Community College District at 7,154.

The UC data also shows that 42 of the 50 highest-paid employees worked in the medical field. Among the 15 highest-paid employees, nine worked in medicine and six in athletics. The average wages of the 10 highest-paid UC employees rose by more than 17 percent over five years, from $3.14 million in 2021 to $3.69 million in 2025.

California law requires cities, counties, and special districts to report compensation data annually to the State Controller's Office (SCO). The SCO also publishes payroll data for state departments and California State University and solicits voluntary reports from other public entities, including UC institutions and CCD.

The Government Compensation in California website allows the public to search pay and benefit information by employer and job title, view results by region, and export data and custom reports.

As the chief fiscal officer of the fourth-largest economy in the world, California State Controller Malia M. Cohen independently oversees and manages the state's financial resources with integrity and transparency to build trust. Controller Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state's financial resources. She has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. The Controller is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation's two largest public pension funds. Follow the California State Controller's Office on X, Facebook, and YouTube at @CAController and on Instagram at @CaliforniaController.

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SOURCE California State Controller's Office