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Full-Time Regular Employees
The City’s benefits package includes:
Paid Time Off
Paid Holidays
Paid holidays as specified by the City Council
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday
- Good Friday
- Memorial Day
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Veterans Day
- Thanksgiving (2)
- Christmas (3)
Vacation
The City of Raleigh provides paid vacation for you to be away from work for rest and relaxation. As a new hire, you can accrue one day per month. Accrual increases with years of service. You can begin accruing on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment, and then on the first day of each month thereafter. You are required to complete six months of service before vacation leave will be granted.
Vacation Accrual Schedule for Years of Service
- 0-2 years: 1 day/month (12 days/year)
- 3-9 years: 1.25 days/month (15 days/year)
- 10-14 years: 1.5 days/month (18 days/year)
- 15-19 years: 1.75 days/month (21 days/year)
- 20+ years: 2 days/month (24 days/year)
Note: Employees may accrue up to 50 days. Any vacations accrued over 50 days are automatically converted to sick leave.
Sick Leave
The City provides sick leave for you, which is earned at the rate of one day/month (12 days per year), beginning the first of the month following completion of 30 days of employment.
Petty Leave
As a City employee, you earn 12 hours of petty leave per year. Petty leave can be used for attending to personal matters that cannot be transacted outside office hours, such as medical appointments, not to exceed 4 hours per day.
Bereavement Leave
Regular full-time employees are allowed up to three consecutive workdays (one day is equivalent to one day of an employee’s vacation accrual) in the event of the death of an employee’s immediate family.
Birthday Leave
Regular full-time employees are entitled to one day (a day is equivalent to one day of an employee’s vacation accrual) of Birthday Leave. This leave shall be used at any time.
Personal Leave
Regular full-time employees are eligible for three days of personal leave each year based on their anniversary date. Personal leave may be used for individual or family obligations, and any other matter of a personal nature. A day is equivalent to one day of an employee’s vacation accrual.
Well-Being Leave
Regular full-time employees are eligible for one day of well-being leave (equivalent to one day of an employee’s vacation accrual) on their anniversary date each year.
Note: This leave does not carry over, does not count toward hours worked for overtime, and does not have any cash value at the time of separation from the City.
Health Benefits
Medical Coverage
For many employees, one of the most important decisions they make is choosing the medical plan that best suits them and their family. The City provides you with the choice of two medical plan options (Blue Options PPO Plan A and PPO Plan B), administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina. When you enroll in medical coverage, prescription drug coverage is included. Coverage for new employees is effective the first day of the month following your date of hire. Premiums for the plan are paid through payroll deductions on a pre-tax basis.
- Plan A: The City pays a significant portion of your and your dependents’ premiums under Plan A.
- Plan B: The City pays the full cost of individual coverage and a significant portion of your dependents’ premiums under Plan B.
Note: The City offers a wellness incentive on medical insurance premiums for employees who complete the requirements of the Annual Wellness Assessment each year.
Levels of Coverage Offered for Yourself and Eligible Dependents
- Employee only
- Employee and child
- Employee and children
- Employee and spouse
- Family
Dental Coverage
Good dental care is an important part of your overall healthcare. The City provides you with dental coverage and pays a significant portion of the cost for you and your family. Coverage for new employees is effective the first day of the month following your date of employment. Premiums for the plan are paid through payroll deductions on a pre-tax basis.
Levels of Coverage Offered for Yourself and Eligible Dependents
- Employee only
- Employee and child
- Employee and children
- Employee and spouse
- Family
Vision Coverage
The City offers two vision plan options through the VSP Choice Plan Network. You may choose between the two available for individual and dependent coverage. Vision coverage is voluntary, so the City of Raleigh does not contribute to it.
Life Insurance Benefits
Group Term Life/Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
An important concern for most employees is providing economic security for their family in the event of their death or accidental dismemberment. All regular employees are provided basic life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment in an amount equal to one times their base annual salary, up to a maximum of $250,000. The coverage is effective on the first day of the month following your hire date. The City pays the full premium cost for Basic Life/AD&D insurance for you.
Voluntary Term Life Insurance
You may purchase additional voluntary life for yourself through payroll deductions in increments of $10,000, from $10,000 to $500,000. Your basic life coverage amount and your additional Voluntary life coverage amount cannot exceed eight times your annual earnings. You may apply for as much as $250,000 without medical evidence of insurability if you elect it within 31 days of your initial eligibility.
Dependent Life Insurance
You may also purchase dependent life coverage for your spouse or dependent children. You may purchase coverage for your spouse in increments of $10,000, from $10,000 to $250,000. You may purchase coverage for your spouse in increments of $2,500, from $2,500 to $10,000, through payroll deductions.
Whole Life Insurance
To provide additional life insurance for yourself, you may purchase whole life insurance. Whole life Insurance is permanent insurance that supplements your term life insurance. Coverage includes a premium guarantee, which means that as long as you continuously pay your premiums, the policy's cost cannot increase. The policy also provides a guaranteed 3% credited interest rate on the cash value.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Flexible Spending Accounts are another valuable feature of the City’s Benefits package. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is a tax-free account that allows you to pay for essential health care expenses that are not covered, or are partially covered. Expenses include out-of-pocket medical/dental/vision expenses, child/dependent care expenses, or monthly parking fees. The City has established medical, dependent care, and parking “reimbursement” accounts so that employees may pay for these expenses on a pre-tax basis.
Disability, Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Idemnity
Disability Income Plan
You may purchase short-term disability insurance to replace a portion of your income if you are unable to work due to an off-the-job accident, illness, surgery, or pregnancy. You may enroll in this voluntary payroll deduction plan in $100 increments, which provides up to 60% of your income up to a maximum monthly benefit of $5,000 if you are unable to work.
Accident Insurance
You are eligible to enroll in this voluntary payroll deduction plan, which may supplement your health insurance providing 24-hour coverage for accident-related injuries. Coverage provides lump-sum payments directly to employees for accident-related injuries, including, but not limited to, broken bones, cuts, burns, eye injuries, ruptured discs, etc. An annual wellness (health screening) benefit is available. The policy also includes a Line of Duty Benefit that provides an additional benefit for public safety officers who suffer an accidental death, covered dismemberment, or impairment while on the job.
Critical Illness
You are eligible to enroll in this voluntary payroll deduction plan, which provides a benefit when a covered person is diagnosed with a covered critical illness after coverage is in effect. You may purchase coverage for your spouse up to age 100, as long as you have approved coverage for yourself. Child(ren), from birth to age 26 (26+ if disabled), are automatically enrolled as long as you have approved coverage for yourself. An annual wellness (health screening) benefit is available.
Hospital Idemnity
You are eligible to enroll in this voluntary payroll deduction plan to complement your health insurance by paying benefits to you to cover out-of-pocket costs associated with a hospital stay. Coverage is available to you and your eligible dependents. You may elect this coverage for your spouse and dependents regardless of whether you elect coverage for yourself. An annual wellness (health screening) benefit is available.
Retirement
NC Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (NCLGERS)
All regular full-time employees and Firefighters are covered under the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System (NCLGERS). As an employee, you contribute six percent of your annual salary on a tax-deferred basis. The City contributes a percentage of your annual salary to your retirement accounts.
Regular full-time employees and firefighters are eligible for a full, unreduced retirement benefit after they:
- Complete 30 years of creditable service at any age
- Reach age 60 and complete at least 25 years of creditable service
- Reach age 65 and complete at least five years of creditable service
Regular full-time employees and firefighters are eligible for a reduced early retirement benefit after they:
- Reach age 50 and complete at least 20 years of creditable service
- Reach age 60 (age 55 for firefighters or rescue squad workers) and complete at least five years of creditable service
Purchase of Creditable Service
Effective January 1, 2003, pre-tax money from an eligible retirement plan or IRA may be accepted via rollover on an in-service plan-to-plan transfer to purchase creditable service. This was approved in October 2003 by the Empower 401(k) and the City of Raleigh Supplemental Retirement Plan.
What Does This Mean To You?
If you have withdrawn service, military service, or part-time local service, etc., then you can use your funds from your Empower 401(k) or the City of Raleigh Supplemental Retirement Plan to purchase this service by rolling over the funds.
How Can You Do This?
Contact Human Resources at 919-996-3315 to obtain the forms. You may also download the forms online from the following websites:
Supplemental Retirement Plans
To maximize your retirement income, all regular full-time employees may voluntarily participate in either the City's Supplemental Retirement Plan or the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan of North Carolina 401(K) Plan, or in both plans.
Supplemental 457 Retirement Plan
The City of Raleigh reinforces its commitment to employees' financial well-being by providing a 3% City contribution to eligible* employees' annual salary in a Supplemental 457 Retirement Plan, with no matching requirement. The no matching requirement means that the City contributes 3% to the Supplemental 457 Retirement Plan, regardless of whether the employee contributes.
Note: For 2026, the standard contribution limit is $24,500. For those ages 50+, the catch-up limit is $8,000; for those ages 60-63, it is $11,250. Special catch-up contributions are allowed up to $49,000 in total.
Supplemental Retirement Income Plan of N.C. 401(k) Plan
All regular full-time employees may participate in the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan of North Carolina 401(K) Plan. Participation is voluntary, and officers may contribute up to the maximum level permitted by IRS regulations. Contributions can be made on a tax-deferred or after-tax basis.
Note: For 2026, the standard contribution limit is $24,500. For those ages 50+, the catch-up limit is $8,000; for those ages 60-63, it is $11,250.
Social Security
City employees are members of the Social Security System. The employee contributes 7.65% of their annual salary, and the City matches that contribution. Social Security benefits include retirement, disability payments, and survivors' insurance.
Other Important Benefits
Employee Health Center
The City operates an Employee Health Center to treat job-related injuries and illnesses that occur while employees are at work. All employees are required to have a pre-employment drug screening at this facility. Periodic health screenings, including vision, hearing, and blood pressure, are provided and are also required for certain departments.
Wellness Program
The City of Raleigh Human Resources Department is committed to promoting employee well-being through its comprehensive wellness program. This program is designed to improve overall well-being and productivity by providing education, resources, and support to help you make informed decisions about your health. It also aims to enhance employee satisfaction, engagement, and productivity, while helping the City of Raleigh manage healthcare costs.
Blue 365
Employees enrolled in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) medical plan have access to Blue365, a free program offering discounts on a variety of health and wellness products and services, including fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle programs.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The City of Raleigh provides employees and family members with professional confidential counseling to help resolve problems that may affect their work or family life. Active full-time and part-time employees, and their immediate family members, may use these services free of charge for up to eight visits per issue per year. The EAP can provide confidential emotional, financial, work/lifestyle, and legal support to you and your immediate family members.
Civic Federal Credit Union
City of Raleigh employees are eligible to join Civic Federal Credit Union.
Workers' Compensation
All City employees are covered under the North Carolina Workers' Compensation Act. This act covers those employees who suffer injuries as a result of an accident while performing duties. It will pay medical expenses and a portion of the employee's salary if the individual is out of work due to a work-related injury.
Tuition Assistance
The City offers a Tuition Assistance Program to those employees who wish to further their education and training. An employee may receive financial assistance of up to $2,000.00 per fiscal year for courses related to their current job or a future position with the City. Reimbursements are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Firefighters
If you become a firefighter for the City, you are eligible for all of the benefits listed under the “Regular Full-Time Employees” section of this summary. However, the eligibility for a reduced early retirement benefit under the NC Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System differs from that of a regular full-time employee.
NC Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (NCLGERS)
Firefighters are eligible for a full unreduced retirement benefit after they:
- Complete 30 years of creditable service at any age
- Reach age 60 and complete at least 25 years of creditable service
- Reach age 65 and complete at least five years of creditable service
Firefighters are eligible for a reduced early retirement benefit after they:
- Reach age 50 and complete at least 20 years of creditable service
- Reach age 55 and complete at least 5 years of creditable service
Police Officers
Law enforcement officers are eligible for all of the benefits listed under the “Regular Full-Time Employees” section of this summary, except for the items noted below.
NC Local Governmental Employees’ Retirement System (NCLGERS)
Police Officers are eligible for a full unreduced retirement benefit after they:
- Complete 30 years of creditable service at any age
- Reach age 55 and complete at least five years of creditable service
Police Officers are eligible for a reduced early retirement benefit after they:
- Reach age 50 and complete at least 15 years of creditable service
Special Separation Allowance for Law Enforcement Officers
As a law enforcement officer, if you retire on a service allowance (e.g., 30 years of service at any age or age 55 with at least 5 years of service, you may be eligible for a monthly separation allowance payable until you reach age 62, or until you return to any employment with the local government if a LGERS retiree). Other conditions also apply. Contact Human Resources for details, since the City is responsible for making all determinations of eligibility and for making these benefit payments when you retire.
Temporary/Seasonal Employees and Interns
The City employs temporary and seasonal employees and interns who generally are scheduled to work on a short-term basis. However, if you are hired as a temporary or seasonal employee, or as an intern, you are not eligible for the City of Raleigh’s benefits package as described in this summary.