Pennsylvania pays out hundreds of millions in overtime pay to its employees annually. For some agencies, overtime work is in the nature of the jobs, which involve responding to emergencies. But understaffing sometimes plays a role as well.

Last year, Pennsylvania paid $397 million in overtime to roughly 56,000 employees, according to state data. The state plans to spend a similar amount this year.

“Overtime is a necessary part of operating state government,” Daniel Egan, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Office of Administration, said via email in February. “Many Commonwealth agencies provide 24-7 services Pennsylvanians rely on, including plowing roads, responding to emergencies, staffing correctional facilities, and caring for patients in state hospitals and nursing homes.”

In Pennsylvania, overtime spending has increased by nearly 50% since 2019. Some of the agencies that paid the most overtime were the Department of Corrections, Department of Transportation, Department of Human Services, and the State Police.

Dolling out millions in overtime is not uncommon in state governments and it’s been increasing among some. New York spent 1.3 billion on overtime in 2024, a roughly 10% increase from the previous year. Maryland spent $404 million that year, up almost 38% from four years prior. In Delaware, overtime spending reached $84 million in 2025, about a 20% increase from 2023.

While staffing shortages contribute to overtime needs, agencies say a variety of factors contribute to this spending.

Top spenders on overtime in Pa.

Overtime accounted for 3.9% of Pennsylvania’s personnel costs in 2025, says Egan, which last year ran up to over $10 billion.

These costs include salaries, wages, employee benefits, and other personnel costs like overtime.

Pennsylvania’s personnel costs have grown from $8.2 billion to $10 billion between 2019 and 2025, while overtime spending increased from $269 million to nearly $400 million last year.

But the state’s other expenses have grown even more. Personnel was 9.4% of the budget in 2019, and dropped to 7.8% last year.

Egan noted that state employee pay rates have increased by roughly 28% since 2019 “to keep up with the cost of living and ensure the commonwealth remains a competitive employer for high-quality employees,” and overtime is based on employees’ base rate of pay. He also noted that many state agencies must operate “around the clock.”

Staffing shortages

Corrections doled out roughly $163 million in overtime to 13,600 employees in 2025.

“Overtime in corrections will always be a reality due to the 24/7 operation of essential security posts,” but the department has been working to curb its staffing shortages, said spokesperson Maria Bivens.

State prisons have been plagued by staffing shortages across the country.

In Pennsylvania, Corrections has looked to address the shortage in recent years by dropping the age requirement for trainees and allowing out-of-state applicants.

“As corrections officer vacancies decrease, our facilities become safer, more cost-effective, and better equipped to meet the needs of the incarcerated population,” department secretary Laurel Harry said last year.

Curbing the staffing shortage helps reduce the agency’s reliance on overtime, which in turn reduces employee burnout and saves taxpayers money, the department has noted.

The officer vacancy rate fell from 11.3% in September 2022 to 6.4% in September 2025. Bivens said vacancy should continue to drop to roughly 3% in March once two facilities close and their staff are deployed to other positions.

At the Pennsylvania State Police, “overtime is not determined solely by vacancy rates,” said spokesperson Logan Brouse. It can include responding to critical incidents and court appearances, Brouse noted.

“As part of our public safety operations, overtime is sometimes necessary to uphold our mission by ensuring we can respond efficiently and effectively to emergencies, maintain adequate staffing levels, and meet operational demands,” said Brouse.

The department paid roughly $55 million in overtime to about 5,700 employees last year.

Pennsylvania’s State Police is among several police departments across the country that recently cut their college requirement. As of Feb. 19, the agency had 206 trooper vacancies and 110 open civilian positions.

The governor’s budget proposal includes funds to add 380 troopers, and removes a cap on how many the state can hire, said Brouse.

“The department continually reviews staffing levels, scheduling practices, and operational needs to manage overtime responsibly,” said Brouse. “We always strive to be good stewards of taxpayer money while ensuring that public safety services are delivered effectively and without interruption.”

Agencies on call 24-7

Some agencies say overtime is inevitable given the all-hours nature of their work.

Last year, PennDot paid $70 million in overtime to roughly 12,100 employees. Their work includes emergency response during weather events, as well as roadway or bridge repairs, noted spokesperson Erin Waters-Trasatt.

“Pennsylvanians expect our employees to respond to emergencies 24-7 and during major events — like the January 2026 snowstorm,” said Waters-Trasatt. “Overtime is required to keep our roadways clear and safe for travel.”

The Department of Human Services paid about $65 million in overtime to 8,513 employees last year.

The department runs psychiatric hospitals and other residential care facilities that operate 24-7 and “must continue to function even when employees have reached the standard number of work hours per day or week,” said spokesperson Natalie Scott.

The department has also been trying to fill vacancies, Scott noted, adding that Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration has cut down the time it takes to hire state employees.

“Progress made to increase staff will allow employees more time and resources to effectively do their work and reduce the amount of overtime spent,” said Scott.

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