NYC Deputy Sheriffs Win Retroactive Raise. Here’s How Much It Could Add To Payroll

NEW YORK, NY— New York City deputy sheriffs have approved a new labor contract that increases wages, raises starting pay and expands benefits after more than four years without a finalized agreement.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Office of Labor Relations announced the ratification of the 62-month contract with the NYC Deputy Sheriffs’ Benevolent Association.

The agreement covers Jan. 1, 2022, through Feb. 28, 2027, and includes retroactive wage increases, improved uniform allowances and additional health and welfare funding.

The contract affects the deputies responsible for carrying out court orders, enforcing laws and supporting public safety operations across the City.

The agreement provides compounded wage increases totaling more than 18 percent over the life of the contract.

The salary increases include:

• Jan. 1, 2022: 3.25 percent increase
• Jan. 1, 2023: 3.25 percent increase
• Jan. 1, 2024: 3.5 percent increase
• Jan. 1, 2025: 3.5 percent increase
• Jan. 1, 2026: 4 percent increase

The first step of the deputy sheriff salary schedule will also increase by $4,368 starting Jan. 1, 2025, raising starting pay for new deputies and supporting recruitment efforts.

How Much Will The New Contract Cost The City?

New York City’s Sheriff’s Office has fewer than 300 active employees, making it one of the City’s smallest law enforcement agencies.

The agency has struggled with staffing shortages, with deputy sheriff positions among those facing the largest vacancy challenges.

Richard Lee, NYC Department of Finance commissioner, said the agreement is intended to strengthen recruitment and retention for the Sheriff’s Office.

“This contract recognizes those contributions by providing well-earned benefits that support our deputies and reinforce our shared commitment to maintaining a strong, effective Sheriff’s Office," Lee said.

The administration said the deal maintains “long-term fiscal stability,” but it did not provide a dollar estimate for the full cost of the agreement, including retroactive wage payments covering raises that date back to 2022.

Retroactive pay is a key part of many delayed labor agreements because workers receive compensation for raises they would have earned if a contract had been settled on schedule.

However, those payments can create a significant one-time expense for municipal budgets.

The City has previously disclosed costs for other uniformed union contracts.

For example, a separate agreement with the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association was estimated to cost $1.02 billion through Fiscal Year 2029.

Deputy sheriff salaries range from $36,577 to $104,210 depending on assignment level, according to a review of Civil List salary records.

The City has not released the total cost of the deputy sheriffs’ contract, but based on a workforce of roughly 277 employees, the salary increases could represent millions of dollars in additional annual payroll costs.

Using an estimated average salary of $70,000, the contract’s compounded wage increases would add roughly $3.7 million annually before factoring in retroactive payments, benefits and other costs.

Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion said the agreement balances improved benefits for employees with financial responsibility for taxpayers.

Deputies will receive additional support through increased workplace allowances and benefit funding.

What Do NYC Deputy Sheriffs Actually Do?

Unlike police officers who respond to crimes and patrol neighborhoods, deputy sheriffs carry out a different set of law enforcement responsibilities.

Deputy sheriffs are responsible for enforcing court orders, conducting property seizures, serving legal documents and handling certain enforcement operations throughout the City.

Their work can include executing eviction orders, collecting unpaid judgments and assisting with public safety operations.

Many of these duties require deputies to interact with residents during some of the most difficult legal and financial moments of their lives.

What Are Deputies Saying About The Agreement?

Deputy Sheriffs’ Benevolent Association President Ingrid Simonovic said members had worked through years of challenges while serving without a contract.

“For over four years, our Deputy Sheriffs have taken on some of the biggest challenges facing New Yorkers, as we provide critical and essential services, often in very dangerous environments, all while working without a contract,” Simonovic said.

The agreement was reached through collaboration between the Office of Labor Relations, the Department of Finance, the Sheriff’s Office and the Deputy Sheriffs’ Benevolent Association.

Jacqueline James, Department of Finance deputy commissioner and chief financial officer, said the contract provides stability for employees and the City.

“This agreement recognizes the important work of our deputy sheriffs, and represents the successful collaboration of the Office of Labor Relations, the Sheriff’s Office and the Deputy Sheriff’s Association,” James said.