Benefits
CDOT offers excellent benefits and perks to employees. That's one of the reasons we often receive more than 100 applications for a single job opening.
Among the factors that make working for CDOT so rewarding:
- Competitive, market-based pay
- Up to six medical insurance options
- Dental insurance from a top national dental provider
- Health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts
- Basic life insurance at no cost to employees, with additional optional employee, spouse and dependent life insurance available
- Short-term disability insurance at no cost to employees, with optional long-term disability available
- Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA) participation including retirement benefits and 401(k)/457 plans
- Paid time off, including holidays, earned sick and annual leave, military, jury, and bereavement leave, and a leave grant program
- Training and other career-growth opportunities
- Access to reduced programs (such as EcoPass) and statewide discounts through BenefitHub
Learn more below about these and other great reasons to join our team.
Medical & Dental Insurance
Medical
Eligible employees have several medical plans from which to choose. Medical insurance is elective, and is available for eligible employees and their family members.
The State of Colorado contributes to the cost of medical insurance, with employees responsible for a portion of the cost.
Medical Plan Details & Rates for the Current Plan Year
Dental
Eligible employees have two dental plans from a top national dental provider which to choose. Dental insurance is elective, and is available for eligible employees and their family members.
The State of Colorado contributes to the cost of dental insurance, with employees responsible for a portion of the cost.
Dental Plan Details & Rates for the Current Plan Year
Life & Disability Insurance
Life
The State of Colorado provides basic life insurance to eligible employees—equal to their annual salary. In addition, eligible employees can protect themselves and their loved ones by purchasing optional employee, spouse and dependent life insurance.
Life Insurance Coverage Options
Disability
With disability insurance, employees can ensure they and their loved ones are financially secure in the event of a short- or long-term disability. The state provides benefit-eligible employees short-term disability, while long-term disability plans are available to eligible employees for purchase.
Disability Coverage options & Details
Retirement
PERA Plan Participation
CDOT employees do not contribute to Social Security. Instead, as an employee of the State of Colorado, you and CDOT contribute a percentage of your monthly earnings to the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA). Employees have two PERA retirement plans to choose to participate in: the PERA Defined Benefit Plan and the PERA Defined Contribution Plan.
PERA Benefits & Retirement Plan Options
Optional PERA Plans
PERA also offers members the opportunity to contribute through pretax payroll deduction to the PERA 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, and the PERA 401(k) Plan.
FSA/HSA
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Care and Dependent Care
Eligible employees can enroll to participate in health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts. Contributions are made by pretax payroll deduction, and can be used for payment or reimbursement of qualifying expenses. (Health care FSAs can be used for medical, dental and vision expenses. Dependent care FSAs can be used for qualified dependent day care expenses.)
Health Savings Accounts (HSA)
Beginning in 2016, not only can eligible employees contribute to a qualified health savings account, but the State of Colorado will also contribute $60 per month to an employee's Optum Bank HSA.
HSA Eligibility & Plan Details
Paid Time Off
Annual Leave (aka, Vacation)
The longer an employee works for the State of Colorado, the more annual (vacation) leave is earned each month. The state's leave accrual schedule (below) shows monthly and annual leave accruals.
Annual leave is available for use the month after it is earned, and annual leave is pro-rated for eligible employees working less than full time.
| Years of Service | Monthly Accrual | Annual Accrual | Maximum Carry-over |
| 1-3 years | 8 hours | 12 days | 24 days (192 hrs) |
| 4-5 years | 9 hours | 13.5 days | 27 days (216 hrs) |
| 6-10 years | 11 hours | 16.5 days | 33 days (264 hours) |
| 11-15 years | 13 hours | 19.5 days | 39 days (312 hours) |
| 16+ years | 16 hours | 24 days | 48 days (384 hours) |
Leave may be used the month after it is earned. Any hours accrued over the respective maximum carry-over amount must be used by June 30 of each year or they will be lost.
Sick Leave
Permanent full-time employees earn a set number of sick leave hours per month, regardless of their years of service. This amount is pro-rated for permanent part-time employees.
- Monthly Accrual: 6.66 hours
- Annual Accrual: 10 days
- Maximum Carry-Over: 45 days (360 hours)
Leave may be used the month after it is earned. Any hours accrued above 360 and not used by June 30 of each year are converted to vacation on a five-to-one sick-to-annual-leave basis.
Temporary employees earn sick leave every two weeks.
- 0.033 hours per hour of work or paid absence
- Leave Cap and Maximum Carry-Over: 6 days (48 hours)
Leave may be used after it is earned. Any hours accrued above 48 are forfeit.
Holidays
Eligible employees are granted 11 paid holidays each year, as established by the governor of Colorado.
State of Colorado Holiday Schedule
Other Leave
In addition to annual leave, sick leave and holidays, employees may also be eligible for paid bereavement leave, jury leave, as well as both paid and unpaid military leave. CDOT also has a leave grant program for eligible employees.
Employee Development
Career Opportunities
Employees can gain experience in a variety of different areas by transferring within the department with no loss of tenure, retirement or benefits. In this way, employees can gain different career opportunities without having to change employers.
Tuition Reimbursement Program
CDOT's Education and Professional Development Reimbursement Program financially assists employees in their career and personal development. It is the intent of the program is to reimburse any qualifying employee for a portion of the designated costs for eligible activities.
Professional Development
CDOT provides both training and development opportunities for new employees to learn about the CDOT values and culture as well as specific tasks and knowledge that are necessary for an employee to be successful in his or her career.
Perks
Colorado State Employee Assistance Program
The Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) makes available at no cost to employees confidential, short-term counseling to all state employees and their immediate family members.
CSEAP Program Information
Credit Union Membership
State employees and their family members are eligible for membership with the Credit Union of Colorado (formerly Colorado State Employees Credit Union, or CSECU).
Employee Discount Programs
Employees of the State of Colorado have available discounts, promotions and special programs from hundreds of retailers, restaurants, travel, and entertainment venues throughout Colorado, and across the country.
State of Colorado BenefitsHub
State of Colorado Wellness Program
Earn up to $20 a month in discounts by participating in the State of Colorado's Wellness Program, MotivateMe, powered by myCigna. By creating an account and personalizing it with your health and wellness wish list, you gain access to a tailored set of tips, activities and articles to get you on the road to a healthy lifestyle.
