New Employees

The "average" federal employee salary is nearly $78,500, an amount that has risen by about $1,800 in the past two years despite a general freeze on salary rates, according to the Office of Personnel Management. As of September, OPM reported last week, the average salary for a full-time, permanent, non-seasonal position was $78,467. The comparable figure for December 2010 was $76,701. The latest available median salary is $74,714, up from $69,550 in 2010. Federal employees did not receive the traditional across-the-board January raises in 2011, 2012 or 2013.

The "average" federal employee salary is nearly $78,500, an amount that has risen by about $1,800 in the past two years despite a general freeze on salary rates, according to the Office of Personnel Management. As of September, OPM reported last week, the average salary for a full-time, permanent, non-seasonal position was $78,467. The comparable figure for December 2010 was $76,701. The latest available median salary is $74,714, up from $69,550 in 2010. Federal employees did not receive the traditional across-the-board January raises in 2011, 2012 or 2013.

More than 5,000 federal employees are expected to begin moving to Maryland's Fort George G. Meade military base starting in January and are to complete the move by June 2011, officials said Tuesday. The moves are part of the federal government's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program and will bring to about 48,000 the number of people working at Fort Meade by Sept. 30, 2011. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense on Tuesday gave media representatives a tour of the facilities being constructed for the new employees, many of whom now work in Northern Virginia.

The Sykesville Town Council voted Monday night, Nov. 26, to maintain the town's contract for a U.S. Post Office, and the town will plan to hire at least two new employees to operate it. The decision does not guarantee the post office's future, however, as the council plans to address its fate again during next year's town budget talks. It was a decision that pleased the full house, where many stated the importance of the post office to the town for not only its services, but also for its atmosphere.

The Sykesville Town Council voted Monday night, Nov. 26, to maintain the town's contract for a U.S. Post Office, and the town will plan to hire at least two new employees to operate it. The decision does not guarantee the post office's future, however, as the council plans to address its fate again during next year's town budget talks. It was a decision that pleased the full house, where many stated the importance of the post office to the town for not only its services, but also for its atmosphere.

When Peter Harrigan learned that Lockheed Corp., his employer for a dozen years, would merge with Martin Marietta Corp., the first thing he did was go to the nearest bookstore.The 44-year old corporate communication official at Lockheed's headquarters in Calabasas, Calif., was worried what his new boss would be like.But Mr. Harrigan, like thousands of others like him, didn't have to rely on the rumor mill. Instead, he was able to get a fairly complete picture of what makes his future CEO tick by thumbing through a 367-page book.

The city's housing department will hire 10 new employees to monitor the Community Development Block Grant program.The city Board of Estimates yesterday authorized $280,000 to hire the workers who will be assigned to the Department of Housing and Community Development, the agency that administers the block grant program. The 10 employees would be paid $28,000 annually and they would not receive any benefits except workmen's compensation.The block grant program is funded with money from the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

CSX Corp. said Thursday that it would hire more than 140 employees in Maryland this year. The new employees, who will be based primarily in Baltimore and Cumberland, will operate trains and maintain tracks, locomotives and rail cars. The company maintains nearly 1,400 miles of track in Maryland and operates facilities in Baltimore, Cumberland, Hagerstown and Jessup. Applications are available on the company's website. CSX said it recruited military veterans, with nearly one in five of its employees having served in the armed forces.

Beverly Trusty has sent out more job applications than she can count since she was laid off by Bank of America in October. Most companies never call back. When she has landed an interview, she has been told that there's a hiring freeze. But yesterday, Trusty and other job seekers discovered an anomaly in this age of layoffs and cutbacks - a company that is actually hiring. NCO Group Inc., the world's largest debt collection agency, was looking to fill about 40 positions at a job fair yesterday.

At the University of Maryland Medical Center, employees in the competitive world of health care reaped rewards when they recruited new colleagues. Workers could pocket up to $5,000 each time they found an applicant who later became a medical center employee. However, Paula Anderson turned the hunt for new employees into a lucrative crime. Anderson, who worked in the medical center's human resources department, admitted yesterday in federal court in Baltimore that she turned the incentive system on its head.

CSX Corp. said Thursday that it would hire more than 140 employees in Maryland this year. The new employees, who will be based primarily in Baltimore and Cumberland, will operate trains and maintain tracks, locomotives and rail cars. The company maintains nearly 1,400 miles of track in Maryland and operates facilities in Baltimore, Cumberland, Hagerstown and Jessup. Applications are available on the company's website. CSX said it recruited military veterans, with nearly one in five of its employees having served in the armed forces.

More than 5,000 federal employees are expected to begin moving to Maryland's Fort George G. Meade military base starting in January and are to complete the move by June 2011, officials said Tuesday. The moves are part of the federal government's Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program and will bring to about 48,000 the number of people working at Fort Meade by Sept. 30, 2011. Representatives from the U.S. Department of Defense on Tuesday gave media representatives a tour of the facilities being constructed for the new employees, many of whom now work in Northern Virginia.

Network specialist Ciena Corp., based in Linthicum, has granted 1.7 million shares to 195 new employees. The workers were employed in connection with Ciena's acquisition of the optical networking and carrier ethernet assets of Nortel's Metro Ethernet Networks business. The awards include 100,000 to Philippe Morin, Ciena's new senior vice president of the global products group. The awards are effective April 1. One-fourth of the grant amount will vest on June 20, 2011, and in equal one-twelfth amounts each calendar quarter thereafter over the following three years, provided that the employee continues employment with Ciena.

President Barack Obama will announce details of a new $33 billion payroll tax credit for businesses during a visit to Baltimore this morning, White House officials said Thursday. The proposal, which Obama mentioned in his State of the Union speech Wednesday night, is an updated version of a similar initiative that was first considered as a part of the 2009 stimulus package and later abandoned. A senior White House official, briefing reporters on condition he not be identified by name because Obama had not yet made the details public, said the time was ripe for the idea.

Michael McCroy plans to make a career in the Howard County public school system. The social studies teacher, who has eight years of teaching experience, has yet to receive his school assignment but is eager to make an impact at his new school - wherever it may be - and to move up the ranks into administration. McCroy and 327 other new employees descended on Reservoir High School this week for Howard County's annual new-teacher orientation. The four-day event is an opportunity for new teachers to learn the rules and procedures of the school system.

Bryan Fischer says he has enjoyed his job as a recruiter for Villa Julie College, but it was time for a change. He wants a chance, he says, to serve his country without actually putting on a military uniform. So next week, Fischer, 26, embarks on a new career at Fort Monmouth, N.J., where he'll become a civilian defense worker writing field manuals for the Army. He'll miss family and friends in Baltimore, but he knows he'll be back within three years - when the New Jersey base closes and shifts the bulk of its work force to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Lockheed Martin Corp.'s Missiles & Space unit said it has more than 1,000 job openings and expects to hire about 3,000 people at its Sunnyvale facility in the next three years.Lockheed Martin is hiring new employees as it consolidates most of its satellite operations at Sunnyvale. The company said the unit has multibillion-dollar contracts to fill and a backlog of commercial and government satellite orders, a spokesman said.Missiles & Space, Lockheed's largest operating unit, won a $2 billion contract in November to build a space-based infrared sensor system for the Air Force.

Richard Minton Senior customer service representative/Verizon Wireless, Hanover Age --41 Years in the business --10 Salary --$36,000 a year, plus an annual bonus How he started --Minton began as a temporary employee for the former MCI WorldCom about 10 years ago. He was hired full time and worked in its call center for seven years. Minton joined Verizon Wireless three years ago. Typical day --Minton works the 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift Monday through Friday. As a senior customer service representative, he oversees training of new employees.

Howard County will be able to hire 517 new government and school employees, and the fire property tax rate will increase by 1 cent, thanks to a $1.3 billion operating budget approved by the County Council yesterday. . The general property tax rate won't change, but the owner of a house priced at the county median of $450,000 will pay $273 more in property taxes July 1, due mostly to rising assessments, budget officials said. Greg Fox, the council's only Republican, was the only member to vote against the spending plan.

At the University of Maryland Medical Center, employees in the competitive world of health care reaped rewards when they recruited new colleagues. Workers could pocket up to $5,000 each time they found an applicant who later became a medical center employee. However, Paula Anderson turned the hunt for new employees into a lucrative crime. Anderson, who worked in the medical center's human resources department, admitted yesterday in federal court in Baltimore that she turned the incentive system on its head.