Benefits

Maybe you're a civil engineer just out of college. Or a veteran electrician with years on the job. Or a retired school teacher looking for a second career. No matter what your area of expertise or where you are in your life, there's a good chance you can put your skills to work for the Water Authority. With more than half a million people depending on us to deliver reliable and safe drinking water -- and provide wastewater collection and treatment at the same time -- we have an enormous responsibility to the community. If you're ready to shoulder that responsibility, we offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that is competitive with the private sector and allows you to participate in New Mexico's excellent public employee retirement plan. Click here for a list of current job openings!

Salary Levels

Our salary levels are generally competitive with the private sector, and are adjusted periodically. The majority of Water Authority employees are members of one of three bargaining units. The Water Authority pays bi-weekly on Friday; automatic deposit is mandatory.

Health/Dental Insurance

Health insurance is offered through Presbyterian Health My Care Plan or Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico. Dental insurance is provided through Delta Dental or United Concordia Dental. Vision insurance is provided through Davis Vision. Compared to other utility employers, the Water Authority’s plan is one of most generous and the least costly to employees because the Authority pays 80% of the premium cost. Employees, their qualifying spouse or domestic partner, and qualifying dependents are eligible for insurance coverage.

Retirement Plans

New employees joining the Water Authority elect to participate in one of two retirement plans. The state retirement plan (PERA) is a defined benefit plan that provides retirement income up to 75% of the average of your three highest years' salary after 30 years of employment. Participation in PERA guarantees you access to the retiree health care plan at retirement. Each pay period, 3.29 % of your gross salary is withheld from your paycheck on a pretax basis for PERA and 1.3% for the retiree health care program. The Water Authority contributes an additional 19.01% on your behalf for PERA and 1.3% for the retiree health care program.

New employees who do not wish to join PERA are eligible to participate in a 401 Defined Contribution Plan, similar to 401(a) plans available in the private sector. Employee contributions are pre-tax, and plan participants are not taxed on employer contributions (19.15 percent of your annual salary) or upon earnings until funds are withdrawn.

Group Term Life Insurance

Group term life insurance coverage equal to a percentage of your annual salary is provided at no cost to every employee. Employees may elect to purchase additional life insurance at a reasonable cost. Long-term disability insurance is also available for purchase at competitive rates.

Other Benefits

Other benefits include deferred compensation programs, flex benefit plans, domestic partner benefits, employee assistance programs, career counseling, educational leave and tuition assistance, and training credit achievement.

Leave

Employees accrue sick leave at the rate of 3.7 hours biweekly to a maximum of 1,200 hours.

Employees accrue vacation leave every pay period on the following schedule:

Accrued sick and vacation leave balances may be paid out at the time of retirement.

The Water Authority provides ten days of paid holiday leave annually, in addition to the employee’s birthday. Other paid leave includes jury duty, bereavement, voting, annual military service and education.