City government is big business, and a nice job if you can get it. Salaries for mayors, city managers and county supervisors across California vary wildly, and it's not always the biggest cities shelling out the big bucks.
Everyone may know the name of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, but her paycheck is just a fraction of the compensation paid to the city manager for Redding in Shasta County in 2025, according to the California State Controller's Office. The State Controller's Office released a report of the highest-paid government officials in its 2025 Government Compensation in California analysis. The report details how taxpayer funds were spent and who got paid the most in the previous year's public payroll.
The 2025 Government Compensation in California report showed 56 counties reported data, accounting for 407,389 county employees and more than $39.2 billion in total wages statewide.
Los Angeles County had the highest county government payroll in California, with more than $12.4 billion in total wages paid to 112,324 county employees, according to data from the California State Controller’s Office.
Amounts documented by the controller's office include base pay, overtime and lump sum disbursals, which are often tied to banked vacation and sick leave time that went unused, sometimes for years, then cashed out. Each county also lists its total retirement and health benefits contribution.
The full data is available at publicpay.ca.gov.
Among California's 58 counties, here are some notable government employee payouts.
Los Angeles County ranked No. 1 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $12,477,487,462 paid to 112,324 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in Los Angeles County was Pasadena’s City Manager, with $556,026 in total wages. The city of Los Angeles’ City Administrative Officer was also among the highest-paid city executives statewide, with $489,916 in total wages.
Los Angeles County had the five highest-paid county supervisors in the uploaded statewide Board of Supervisors data, with total wages ranging from $296,308 to $302,904.
Among county employees listed in the highest-paid employee data, Los Angeles County’s highest-paid entry was a Chief Physician I, Surgery-Neurological, at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, with $1,202,355 in total wages. A Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff was also listed near the top statewide, with $1,189,555 in total wages.
Riverside County ranked No. 3 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $2,367,882,611 paid to 28,630 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in Riverside County was Coachella’s City Manager, with $582,258 in total wages. Cathedral City’s City Manager was also among the highest-paid city executives statewide, with $524,749 in total wages.
Riverside County supervisors were among the highest-paid in the statewide Board of Supervisors data uploaded. The four Riverside County Board of Supervisors members listed near the top received total wages ranging from $254,514 to $257,439.
San Diego County ranked No. 5 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $2,029,989,715 paid to 22,803 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in San Diego County was Chula Vista’s City Manager, with $430,712 in total wages.
The highest-paid San Diego County supervisor listed in the Board of Supervisors export was a County Supervisor who also held the position of Local Agency Formation Commission member, with $234,347 in total wages.
Orange County ranked No. 6 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $1,898,038,799 paid to 19,869 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in Orange County was Cypress’ City Manager, with $508,509 in total wages.
The highest-paid Orange County supervisor listed in the Board of Supervisors export was a Member, Board of Supervisors in the 4th District, with $218,741 in total wages.
Contra Costa County ranked No. 7 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $1,371,543,750 paid to 12,763 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in Contra Costa County was Richmond’s City Manager, with $432,127 in total wages.
The highest-paid Contra Costa County supervisor listed in the Board of Supervisors export was a Board of Supervisors Member, with $181,171 in total wages.
#9 Alameda County
Alameda County ranked No. 9 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $1,268,989,472 paid to 11,077 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in Alameda County was Fremont’s City Manager, with $439,850 in total wages.
The highest-paid Alameda County supervisor listed in the Board of Supervisors was a supervisor in Supervisorial District No. 4, with $210,708 in total wages.
San Mateo County ranked No. 11 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $857,338,143 paid to 7,777 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in San Mateo County was Daly City’s City Manager, with $513,037 in total wages. San Carlos’ City Manager was also among the 15 highest-paid city executives statewide, with $473,178 in total wages.
Sonoma County ranked No. 16 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $533,056,929 paid to 5,465 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in Sonoma County was Santa Rosa’s City Manager, with $490,511 in total wages.
Marin County ranked No. 21 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $324,272,293 paid to 3,409 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in Marin County was San Rafael’s City Manager, with $369,294 in total wages.
Napa County ranked No. 25 statewide for total county wages in 2025, with $192,580,951 paid to 2,030 employees.
The highest-paid city manager listed in Napa County was St. Helena’s City Manager, with $339,237 in total wages.
The highest-paid Napa County supervisor listed in the Board of Supervisors export was listed as Board Of Supervisors, with $167,618 in total wages.
For more information, visit: gcc.sco.ca.gov.
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