While state law suggests this be one of the considerations when directors' raises are proposed, there was no testimony on this point during the hearing that state personnel administrator Anthony Bucci conducted Friday morning.
Chafee intends to give his directors raises of 3 percent in June and 3 percent in December, unless the House and Senate reject the proposal within 30 days.
The Council of State Governments compiles comparative salaries information. in its "Book of the States.''
Job descriptions may vary from state to state. As an example, no other New England state paid its labor director more in 2012 than the $130,152 Rhode Island pays former Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty in that role. With a cumulative 6 percent raise, Fogarty's salary would rise to $138, 078.
In 2012, Maine paid $102,689 to its top labor official, Massachusetts $90,000, New Hampshire $104,364, Vermont $93,995 and Connecticut, $130,000.