It’s important to talk about how much our top government officials make. Are we paying enough to get the top, visionary talent that will move us forward? Are we throwing money away?
This data is accurate as of September 2015. I’ve put in the salary of the closest job title at the city of Raleigh. But keep in mind that the city of Charlotte has about twice as many people as Raleigh. Charlotte also has nearly 7,000 employees, while Raleigh has about 3,700.
The city has also posted information about its lowest-paid position: A laborer in the solid waste services division (read: trash) that handles bulky item pick-up. Pay is $480 per week or $24,960 annually.
1) Ron Carlee, city manager
Salary: $245,000
Hourly rate: $117.79
Counterpart in Raleigh: Ruffin Hall, $223,600
2) John Lewis Jr., executive director of Charlotte Area Transit System
Salary: $228,698
Hourly rate: $109.95
Counterpart in Raleigh: David Eatman
3) Ron Kimble, deputy city manager
Salary: $222,759.16
Hourly rate: $107.10
Counterpart in Raleigh: James Greene Jr., $170,000
4) Robert Hagemann, city attorney
Salary: $221,235.59
Hourly rate: $106.36
Counterpart in Raleigh: Thomas McCormick Jr., $232,405
5) Brent Cagle, interim aviation director
Salary: $202,119
Hourly rate: $97.17
Counterpart in Raleigh: Michael Landguth (not a city employee)
6) John Muth, transit deputy director for development
Salary: $194,202.06
Hourly rate: $93.37
Counterpart in Raleigh: No direct comparison.
7) Debra Campbell, assistant city manager
Salary: $190,000
Hourly rate: $91.35
Counterpart in Raleigh: Tansy Hayward, $160,000
8) Jeffrey Stovall, chief information officer
Salary: $189,241.13
Hourly rate: $90.98
Counterpart in Raleigh: Michael Basham, $123,680.
9) Randy Harrington, chief financial officer
Salary: $178,499.88
Hourly rate: $85.82
Counterpart in Raleigh: Perry James III, $164,624.
10) Barry Gullet, utilities director
Salary: 176,043.58
Hourly rate: $84.64
Counterpart in Raleigh: Robert Massengill, $143,742.
11) Jeb Blackwell, city engineer
Salary: $173,657.73
Hourly rate: $83.49
Counterpart in Raleigh: No direct comparison.
12) Kerr Putney, police chief
Salary: $171,328
Hourly rate: $82.37
Counterpart in Raleigh: Cassandra Deck-Brown, $143,818
13) Carolyn Johnson, senior deputy city attorney
Salary: $169,073.06
Hourly rate: $81.29
Counterpart in Raleigh: Ira Botvinick, $129,864
14) Patrick Mumford, neighborhood and business services director
Salary: $167,171.47
Hourly rate: $80.37
Counterpart in Raleigh: No direct comparison
15) Ann Wall, assistant city manager
Salary: $166,240
Hourly rate: $79.92
Counterpart in Raleigh: Marchell David, $157,500
16) Jon Hannan, fire chief
Salary: $166,054.84
Hourly rate: $79.83
Counterpart in Raleigh: John McGrath, $156,786
17) Jack Christine, deputy aviation director
Salary: $164,120.43
Hourly rate: $78.90
Counterpart in Raleigh: Bill Sandifer (not a city employee)
18) Danny Pleasant, transportation director
Salary: $163,956.64
Hourly rate: $78.83
Counterpart in Raleigh: Michael Kennon, $117,790
19) Cheryl Brown, human resources director
Salary: $163,307.17
Hourly rate: $78.51
Counterpart in Raleigh: Stephen Jones, $132,600
20) Robert Campbell, financial controller
Salary: $163,090.50
Hourly rate: $78.41
Counterpart in Raleigh: Robin Rose, $115,877
(Photo credits: City of Charlotte, Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage, BDPA Charlotte on Flickr for Stovall, National Association of City Transportation Officials)
