City Of Palm Desert's Payroll Exceeded $17 Million In 2025, State Records Show

PALM DESERT, CA — Palm Desert spent more than $17 million on city employee wages in 2025, according to a report released Tuesday by the California State Controller's Office.

The annual report is released to enhance government transparency and provide a single, publicly accessible statewide database.

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According to the report, $17,749,199 in total wages were paid out in Palm Desert last year, with the 10 highest earning officials compensated between $280,922 and $206,801:

The number of city employees on the payroll in 2025 stood at 195, with the average wage at $91,022, according to the report.

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. The full data is available at publicpay.ca.gov.

Palm Desert city council members are compensated. According to the state controller's report, the council members' pay ranged from a high of $42,984 to a low of $36,680 in 2025.

The city of Palm Desert's population is 52,326.

Related:

View Riverside County's Highest Paid Workers In 2025: CA State Controller's Report