DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A consultant’s report says base pay for 18,500 state of Iowa workers is nearly 18 percent higher than comparable workers in the marketplace.  The report from Aon Hewitt says pay ranges for 11 Iowa positions were higher than the market, while ranges for seven positions were below market. The report released Tuesday also says pay ranges for Iowa’s employees are significantly higher than those in other states.

Administrative Services Department director Mike Carroll says the study was commissioned primarily because state officials have never done a comprehensive examination of state employee pay and benefits.  Danny Homan is president of the largest state employees’ bargaining unit, and he says the study lacked credibility and was designed to convince the public that state workers are overpaid.