Employee Benefits & Retirement
Investing in You – Health, Wellness, and Future
At Durham County, we value our employees and recognize that competitive benefits play a key role in attracting and retaining top talent. Our comprehensive benefits package is designed to support the well-being of our employees and their families, offering financial security, work-life balance, and access to valuable resources.
We are committed to fostering a workplace that prioritizes both professional growth and personal well-being. With competitive salaries, robust benefits, and a supportive work environment, Durham County is a place where you can thrive—both on and off the clock.
Explore our award-winning benefits and see how we invest in you!
Benefits of Working at Durham County
At Durham County Government, we are committed to providing a healthy work-life balance, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits that support our employees both personally and professionally.
 Competitive Pay & Time Off |
 Health & Wellness |
 Financial & Retirement Benefits |
 Career Growth & Community Engagement |
| ✅ Competitive Salaries – Earn pay that reflects your skills and experience. ✅ Generous Vacation – 88.92 to 193.96 hours per year (based on service length). ✅ Sick Leave – 12 days per year with unlimited accumulation. ✅ 13 Paid Holidays – Enjoy time off for recognized holidays. ✅ Military Leave – Up to 120 hours of paid leave per calendar year. |
✅ Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance – Comprehensive coverage for you and your family. |
✅ Retirement Benefits – Secure your future with our pension plan. ✅ Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) – Tax-free savings for medical and dependent care. ✅ Vacation Buy-Back Program – Convert unused vacation into extra cash. ✅ Local Government Federal Credit Union (LGFCU) Membership – Exclusive banking benefits. |
✅ Tuition Reimbursement – Invest in your education and future. ✅ Paid Parental Leave – Support for new parents. ✅ Volunteer Service Program – Give back to the community on paid time. |
DCo Benefits Guide
Click here to see the current Employee Benefits Guide. We offer our employees two subsidized medical plans, a rich dental plant, a county paid Vision plan for your entire family and ton more benefits.
Onsite Wellness Clinic
Durham County Government is proud to provide an onsite medical clinic that features a free, confidential way to help employees and their dependents age 2 and up on the medical health plan, meet their health goals.
Mental Health Resources
You don’t have to go at it alone. Durham County has many resources in place to support you and your family members when you need it.
Work/Life Balance & Paid Leave Programs
We have embraced flexible work options such as hybrid and remote options, particularly for roles that do not require in-person services. Additionally, see how we support our employees with paid leave programs.
Federal Transparency in Coverage
This link leads to the machine-readable files that are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule and includes negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed- amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.
Employee Discount Portal (Work Advantage)
Click here to access the Work Advantage employee discounts that are only available to Durham County employees.
Retirement Benefits:
Local Government Employee's Retirement System
Eligible employees become members of the North Carolina Local Government Employee’s Retirement System (NCLGERS). Contributions are paid by the employee (mandatory 6% gross) and Durham County at a rate determined by the State Department of the Treasurer, Retirement Systems Division. Employees are vested after 5 years of contributing.
Learn more about membership at the NC Retirement System website
Local Law Enforcement Officer's Retirement
You become a member of LGERS as a local law enforcement officer on your hire date if you are a permanent, full-time paid employee of an employer, who (i) possesses the power of arrest, (ii) has taken the law enforcement oath administered under the authority of the state as prescribed by G. S 11-11 and (iii) is certified as a law enforcement officer under the provisions of Chapter 17C of the General Statutes or certified as a deputy sheriff under the provisions of Chapter 17E of the General Statutes.
You may retire with an unreduced service retirement benefit after you: Reach age 55 and complete 5 years of creditable service as an officer, or complete 30 years of creditable service at any age.
The NC 401k Retirement Plan
The NC 401(k) Plan is a retirement savings plan available exclusively to North Carolina public employees who are actively contributing to one of the NC Retirement Systems. North Carolina state and local government employers offer this plan to help you reach your retirement savings goals.
Empower 401k is a savings option available to you through the NC Retirement System. Some of the features include:
• Payroll deductions you can start and stop at any time.
• Tax-deferred savings that can reduce your current taxable income.
• Easy-to-use planning tools and personalized assistance.
• Simplified investing tool that helps take the guesswork out and keeps you on track.
• Transfer options into your pension plan from your NC 401(k).
As both 401(k) and 457 (b) options are funded when employees contribute through payroll deductions; participants of each plan set aside a percentage of their salary to put into their retirement account. These funds pass to the retirement account without being taxed, unless the participant opens a Roth account, and any subsequent growth in the accounts is not taxed. These options are both 100% employee paid.
457(b) Retirement Option
A 457(b) deferred compensation plan is a retirement option created to allow public employees to put aside money from each paycheck toward retirement. A deferred compensation plan can help bridge the gap between what you have in your pension and social security, and how much you will need in retirement. This plan may offer benefits other retirement plans cannot, including:
• Penalty-free withdrawals once you stop working for your public sector employer
• Combine or consolidate retirement account
• No minimum retirement age
As both 401(k) and 457 (b) options are funded when employees contribute through payroll deductions, participants of each plan set aside a percentage of their salary to put into their retirement account. These funds pass to the retirement account without being taxed, unless the participant opens a Roth account, and any subsequent growth in the accounts is not taxed. These options are both 100% employee paid.
At Durham County, we’re committed to helping you build financial security. That’s why we provide a 5% employer contribution to your NC 401(k) or NC 457—no employee contribution required! Whether you choose to invest on your own or not, we’re here to support your long-term financial well-being.