Agency file

First Steps

Source file: South Carolina — State Employee Salaries / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The First Steps is a government agency that delivers public services and programs within its jurisdiction.

In 2026, this agency had 62 employees with median total compensation of $77,431; the highest distinct record was $159,064.

Year: 2026
Employees: 62
Median total: $77,431
Highest record: $159,064

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$51,300$123,165+

How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 62 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($77,431) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $80,347 (100%)
Overtime — $0 (0%)
Other — $0 (0%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$57,700

$67,555

$77,431

$90,351

$105,000

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $105,000 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $57,700. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Education Associate

18 · $75,764

Program Manager I

7 · $90,479

Program Coordinator II

5 · $70,748

Program Manager III

3 · $118,784

Public Information Director I

3 · $66,665

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Record list

Employees

Highest-paid first / page 1

Tracy Vandervliet

Agency Head/First Steps

2026 total comp

$159,064

Base pay: $159,064
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $159,064

Tracy Vandervliet is a Agency Head at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $159,064.

David Okelly

Program Manager III/First Steps

2026 total comp

$123,165

Base pay: $123,165
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $123,165

David Okelly is a Program Manager III at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $123,165.

Elliott Epps

Attorney IV/First Steps

2026 total comp

$122,000

Base pay: $122,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $122,000

Elliott Epps holds the role of Attorney IV at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $122,000.

Martha Strickland

Program Manager III/First Steps

2026 total comp

$118,784

Base pay: $118,784
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $118,784

Martha Strickland works as a Program Manager III for First Steps. Martha earned $118,784 in 2026.

Chukwuemika Aroh

Director of Planning and Resrch/First Steps

2026 total comp

$111,500

Base pay: $111,500
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $111,500

Chukwuemika Aroh holds the role of Director of Planning and Resrch at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $111,500.

Elizabeth Gardiner

Program Manager II/First Steps

2026 total comp

$109,251

Base pay: $109,251
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $109,251

Elizabeth Gardiner works as a Program Manager II for First Steps. Elizabeth earned $109,251 in 2026.

Kerry Cordan

Program Manager III/First Steps

2026 total comp

$105,000

Base pay: $105,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $105,000

Kerry Cordan holds the role of Program Manager III at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $105,000.

Tekethia Burrell

Administrative Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$98,476

Base pay: $98,476
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,476

Tekethia Burrell is a Administrative Manager I at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $98,476.

Elizabeth Moore

Director of Strategic Communications/First Steps

2026 total comp

$98,260

Base pay: $98,260
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $98,260

Elizabeth Moore works as a Director of Strategic Communications for First Steps. Elizabeth earned $98,260 in 2026.

Kristine Jenkins

Program Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$95,009

Base pay: $95,009
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,009

Kristine Jenkins holds the role of Program Manager I at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $95,009.

Joy Mazur

Program Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$95,009

Base pay: $95,009
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $95,009

Joy Mazur works as a Program Manager I for First Steps. Joy earned $95,009 in 2026.

Molly Tuck

Director of Planning and Resrch/First Steps

2026 total comp

$92,000

Base pay: $92,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $92,000

Molly Tuck is a Director of Planning and Resrch at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $92,000.

Karen Oliver

Program Manager II/First Steps

2026 total comp

$91,842

Base pay: $91,842
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $91,842

Karen Oliver works as a Program Manager II for First Steps. Karen earned $91,842 in 2026.

Kate Roach

Program Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$91,078

Base pay: $91,078
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $91,078

Kate Roach holds the role of Program Manager I at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $91,078.

Shayla Pettigrew

Program Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$90,479

Base pay: $90,479
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,479

Shayla Pettigrew is a Program Manager I at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $90,479.

William Tucker

IT Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$90,351

Base pay: $90,351
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $90,351

At First Steps, William Tucker serves as a IT Manager I. Their 2026 pay totaled $90,351.

Cynthia Galloway

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$89,203

Base pay: $89,203
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $89,203

Cynthia Galloway works as a Education Associate for First Steps. Cynthia earned $89,203 in 2026.

Gina Beebe

Program Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$86,741

Base pay: $86,741
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,741

At First Steps, Gina Beebe serves as a Program Manager I. Their 2026 pay totaled $86,741.

Janice Kilburn

Senior Consultant/First Steps

2026 total comp

$85,928

Base pay: $85,928
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,928

At First Steps, Janice Kilburn serves as a Senior Consultant. Their 2026 pay totaled $85,928.

Kenna Hoover

Program Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$85,000

Base pay: $85,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,000

At First Steps, Kenna Hoover serves as a Program Manager I. Their 2026 pay totaled $85,000.

Rachal Hatton

Project Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$84,312

Base pay: $84,312
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,312

Rachal Hatton holds the role of Project Manager I at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $84,312.

Cindy Ellis

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$82,765

Base pay: $82,765
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,765

Cindy Ellis works as a Education Associate for First Steps. Cindy earned $82,765 in 2026.

Kimberly Trudell

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$82,357

Base pay: $82,357
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,357

Kimberly Trudell is a Education Associate at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $82,357.

Angelica Jules

Accounting/Fiscal Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$81,845

Base pay: $81,845
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,845

Angelica Jules works as a Accounting/Fiscal Manager I for First Steps. Angelica earned $81,845 in 2026.

Robin Ebert

Accounting/Fiscal Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$81,707

Base pay: $81,707
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,707

Robin Ebert works as a Accounting/Fiscal Manager I for First Steps. Robin earned $81,707 in 2026.

Kristen Martocchio

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$81,627

Base pay: $81,627
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $81,627

Kristen Martocchio is a Education Associate at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $81,627.

Felicia Battle

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$80,028

Base pay: $80,028
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $80,028

Felicia Battle holds the role of Education Associate at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $80,028.

Shekiah Reese

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$79,957

Base pay: $79,957
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $79,957

Shekiah Reese is a Education Associate at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $79,957.

Samantha Ingram

Public Information Director I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$78,952

Base pay: $78,952
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,952

At First Steps, Samantha Ingram serves as a Public Information Director I. Their 2026 pay totaled $78,952.

Amy Engle

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$78,013

Base pay: $78,013
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,013

Amy Engle works as a Education Associate for First Steps. Amy earned $78,013 in 2026.

Connie Spink

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$77,822

Base pay: $77,822
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,822

Connie Spink works as a Education Associate for First Steps. Connie earned $77,822 in 2026.

Lamyra Sanders Dukes

Program Coordinator II/First Steps

2026 total comp

$77,040

Base pay: $77,040
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,040

Lamyra Sanders Dukes is a Program Coordinator II at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $77,040.

Jade Wright

Program Manager I/First Steps

2026 total comp

$76,149

Base pay: $76,149
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,149

Jade Wright works as a Program Manager I for First Steps. Jade earned $76,149 in 2026.

Amanda Bailey

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$76,106

Base pay: $76,106
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $76,106

Amanda Bailey is a Education Associate at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $76,106.

Chelsea Adamson

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$75,421

Base pay: $75,421
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,421

Chelsea Adamson holds the role of Education Associate at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $75,421.

Brandie Dillman

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$75,420

Base pay: $75,420
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $75,420

Brandie Dillman holds the role of Education Associate at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $75,420.

Tiffany Outlaw

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$73,871

Base pay: $73,871
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,871

Tiffany Outlaw holds the role of Education Associate at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $73,871.

Amanda Phillips

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$73,812

Base pay: $73,812
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,812

Amanda Phillips holds the role of Education Associate at First Steps. In 2026, their total compensation was $73,812.

Carrie Trivedi

Program Coordinator II/First Steps

2026 total comp

$72,155

Base pay: $72,155
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $72,155

Carrie Trivedi is a Program Coordinator II at First Steps. 2026 total compensation came to $72,155.

Stacy Greenwalt

Education Associate/First Steps

2026 total comp

$71,469

Base pay: $71,469
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $71,469

At First Steps, Stacy Greenwalt serves as a Education Associate. Their 2026 pay totaled $71,469.