Cushy state benefits and a job overseeing billion-dollar road projects are no longer enough to keep top engineers working for the state, according to John Njord, director of the Utah Department of Transportation.

Attracting and retaining engineers is one of his top five worries as department head, Njord said Friday to a gathering of state lawmakers who were at UDOT most of the day to review its budget and operations.

The meeting was part of an annual trip to the agency by the Legislature's Transportation, Environmental Quality and National Guard Appropriations Subcommittee.

"We have a number of what we call star performers that have left for significantly more than a 30 percent increase in pay," Njord said. "We are concerned about personnel and some of the trends here at UDOT."

On average, UDOT pays its starting engineers about $38,000 a year. Private firms in Utah typically start engineers around $50,000 a year and higher, deputy director Carlos Braceras said.

The agency has about 300 engineers, and its turnover rate is 15 percent to 30 percent in some areas. Last year, it was unable to recruit any new engineers from the University of Utah to come and work.

UDOT typically recruits new employees from the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Utah State University. The U. graduated about 85 civil engineers last year — a record number for the school.

"The benefits don't do it," Braceras said.

Njord added: "It's not enough to cover this kind of gap."

In addition, the state Department of Transportation says it is also facing another year of increased costs for construction materials. In the past three years, costs have increased 30 percent. Typically that number is about 3 percent to 4 percent.

UDOT did not ask lawmakers for any additional funding but said that the agency wanted them to be aware of the challenges.

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