Citizen Portal
Sign In

Cherokee Nation reports $15 minimum implemented, gender pay gap nearly halved and Forbes recognition

Cherokee Nation Tribal Council ยท October 31, 2025

Loading...

AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Human Resources Director Samantha Hendricks reported completion of the $15 minimum wage increase, progress on market-based compensation and a reduction in the gender pay gap to 8.55%; she said the Nation was named Forbes' best large employer in 2025.

Samantha Hendricks, director of Human Resources, reported to the Tribal Council that Cherokee Nation has completed actions required by a 2022 executive order to establish a $15-an-hour minimum wage and that an annual compensation review shows improved market competitiveness and pay equity.

Hendricks said HR marketed more than 1,600 positions this year covering pay data for about 6,000 employees, and that adjustments made in 2023 (a $10,600,000 workload adjustment referenced in the report) had improved market alignment. She said the gender pay gap fell from 16.1% last year to 8.55% this year, meaning women at Cherokee Nation now earn about "91 cents on the dollar" compared with men, a figure Hendricks said outperforms state and national averages.

She confirmed the $15 minimum wage took effect from the executive order's schedule (effective Oct. 25) and described continued annual reviews of market competitiveness and pay equity. Hendricks credited leadership and her team for implementing the changes and offered to answer council questions about grading and position postings; she said two positions submitted for grading would be returned by Monday.

Chief Hoskin and several council members publicly praised Hendricks and the HR team for the work. No council vote was required; the presentation was informational.