California State Controller Releases 2025 Payroll Data for Higher Education Institutions
On October 2, 2026, California State Controller Malia M. Cohen made headlines with the release of payroll data for the fiscal year 2025, specifically focusing on the University of California (UC) institutions and California Community College Districts (CCD). This comprehensive dataset is crucial for transparency and accountability in how educational institutions utilize public funds. The report encompasses a staggering 451,244 positions, revealing over $34 billion in wages and more than $6 billion dedicated to retirement and health contributions, culminating in a total compensation surpassing $40.1 billion.
The report showcases all 10 UC campuses and the Office of the President, highlighting their commitment to transparency since they joined the reporting initiative in 2013. Collectively, they reported 357,167 positions, contributed to a total wage bill of over $29.2 billion, and added nearly $4.5 billion to health and retirement funds. These impressive figures underscore the scale and financial commitment of the UC system to its employees and students.
In contrast, 36 out of 73 CCDs were able to provide complete data. Their contributions totaled coverage for 94,077 positions, which translated to over $4.8 billion in wages and more than $1.5 billion in contributions related to health and retirement. Despite progress, the report did point out that 26 districts failed to file a report, with 11 submitting incomplete data—an area Controller Cohen hopes to improve upon in future reports.
Controller Cohen emphasized the importance of this data in fostering public knowledge about how educational institutions operate financially. She remarked, "Our public colleges and universities open doors to opportunity, and Californians deserve to know how public dollars support that work." Her appreciation for the UC's reporting performance reflects her dedication to ensuring that all community colleges adhere to similar standards of disclosure. This public transparency has significant implications, as informed citizens can better understand the state's investment in education.
Among the data released, UCLA emerged as the campus with the most reported positions at 74,519, closely followed by UC San Diego with 54,598 positions. In the realm of CCDs, the Los Angeles Community College District took the lead with 11,182 positions, demonstrating its prominence within the state's educational framework.
The compensation report also attracts attention for its findings about salaries among the top earners within the UC system. Notably, 42 out of the top 50 highest-paid personnel were affiliated with the medical field, pointing to the economic importance of healthcare employment in the UC system. Of particular note are the salaries of the 15 highest-paid employees, with nine in medicine and six in athletics. The average wages of the top 10 highest-paid UC employees witnessed substantial growth, jumping from $3.14 million in 2021 to $3.69 million in 2025—an increase of over 17% in just four years.
These figures come against a backdrop of California's legal requirements for public institutions to report compensation data annually to the State Controller's Office. The office not only oversees this process for higher education institutions but also for state departments and the California State University system, while encouraging other public entities to voluntarily report their payroll information.
The detailed payroll data can be accessed through the Government Compensation in California website, allowing citizens to search pay and benefits by employer and job title, providing valuable insights into the allocation of public funds.
As California's chief fiscal officer, Controller Malia M. Cohen upholds rigorous standards of financial integrity and transparency while managing the state's considerable financial resources. Her role extends beyond data publication; she is vested with independent auditing authority over government agencies that utilize state funds. Furthermore, Cohen participates in various financial oversight entities and the boards of the two largest public pension funds in the nation. The active engagement of the California State Controller's Office on social media channels like X, Facebook, and YouTube further reinforces her commitment to keeping the public informed and engaged.
The report showcases all 10 UC campuses and the Office of the President, highlighting their commitment to transparency since they joined the reporting initiative in 2013. Collectively, they reported 357,167 positions, contributed to a total wage bill of over $29.2 billion, and added nearly $4.5 billion to health and retirement funds. These impressive figures underscore the scale and financial commitment of the UC system to its employees and students.
In contrast, 36 out of 73 CCDs were able to provide complete data. Their contributions totaled coverage for 94,077 positions, which translated to over $4.8 billion in wages and more than $1.5 billion in contributions related to health and retirement. Despite progress, the report did point out that 26 districts failed to file a report, with 11 submitting incomplete data—an area Controller Cohen hopes to improve upon in future reports.
Controller Cohen emphasized the importance of this data in fostering public knowledge about how educational institutions operate financially. She remarked, "Our public colleges and universities open doors to opportunity, and Californians deserve to know how public dollars support that work." Her appreciation for the UC's reporting performance reflects her dedication to ensuring that all community colleges adhere to similar standards of disclosure. This public transparency has significant implications, as informed citizens can better understand the state's investment in education.
Among the data released, UCLA emerged as the campus with the most reported positions at 74,519, closely followed by UC San Diego with 54,598 positions. In the realm of CCDs, the Los Angeles Community College District took the lead with 11,182 positions, demonstrating its prominence within the state's educational framework.
The compensation report also attracts attention for its findings about salaries among the top earners within the UC system. Notably, 42 out of the top 50 highest-paid personnel were affiliated with the medical field, pointing to the economic importance of healthcare employment in the UC system. Of particular note are the salaries of the 15 highest-paid employees, with nine in medicine and six in athletics. The average wages of the top 10 highest-paid UC employees witnessed substantial growth, jumping from $3.14 million in 2021 to $3.69 million in 2025—an increase of over 17% in just four years.
These figures come against a backdrop of California's legal requirements for public institutions to report compensation data annually to the State Controller's Office. The office not only oversees this process for higher education institutions but also for state departments and the California State University system, while encouraging other public entities to voluntarily report their payroll information.
The detailed payroll data can be accessed through the Government Compensation in California website, allowing citizens to search pay and benefits by employer and job title, providing valuable insights into the allocation of public funds.
As California's chief fiscal officer, Controller Malia M. Cohen upholds rigorous standards of financial integrity and transparency while managing the state's considerable financial resources. Her role extends beyond data publication; she is vested with independent auditing authority over government agencies that utilize state funds. Furthermore, Cohen participates in various financial oversight entities and the boards of the two largest public pension funds in the nation. The active engagement of the California State Controller's Office on social media channels like X, Facebook, and YouTube further reinforces her commitment to keeping the public informed and engaged.
Topics Policy & Public Interest）
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