Nearly half of San Joaquin Valley city workers collected over $100,000 in total compensation

A survey of 55 San Joaquin Valley cities, accounting for 93 percent of the San Joaquin Valley population, reveals that the average full-time city worker received $104,475 in total compensation last year, with 46 percent collecting at least $100,000.

The five highest compensated city workers in the San Joaquin Valley were:

1. Bakersfield city manager Alan Tandy: $359,879
2. Tracy fire chief Alford Nero: $355,865
3. Bakersfield police chief Greg Williamson: $323,487
4. Fresno city manager Bruce Rudd: $322,085
5. Stockton city manager Kurt Wilson: $308,640

The top six San Joaquin Valley cities with the highest average compensation package for full-time employees were:

1. Tracy $135,134
2. Paso Robles: $129,081
3. San Luis Obispo: $128,463
4. Manteca: $128,150
5. Atwater: $125,773
6. Lodi: $124,602

To view a table listing the average wages of all San Joaquin Valley cities, click here.

The average compensation for full-time employees of the largest departments at the cities of Fresno, Modesto and Stockton was:

Average full-time compensation by department

Taxpayers have been kept in the dark about the full cost of public employees, according to Transparent California’s research director Robert Fellner.

“Government workers receive tens of thousands of dollars worth of benefits that have no comparison in the private sector. This bloat enriches special interests at the expense of both cities and taxpayers.

“Simply publicizing base salaries is inadequate given that city workers enjoy leave policies and benefit packages that dwarf what most taxpayers receive. Reporting full compensation reveals a shocking inequity between city employees and the taxpayers who must bear the cost.”

Overtime and other pay boosts earnings

For all San Joaquin Valley cities surveyed, overtime and other pay combined amounted to 17 percent of salary, slightly lower than the statewide average of 19 percent.

Combined overtime and other pay at Bakersfield equaled 23 percent of salary, the highest of any San Joaquin Valley city with a population of at least 30,000.

Statewide

Average full-time municipal employee compensation for other regions in California was:

Compensation is defined as total wages plus the employer cost of retirement and health benefits. Full-time employees are defined as those receiving a salary equal or greater to the “annual salary minimum” reported.

To view the entire dataset in a searchable and downloadable format, visit TransparentCalifornia.com.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Transparent California, please contact Robert Fellner at 559-462-0122 or Robert@TransparentCalifornia.com.

Transparent California is California’s largest and most comprehensive database of public sector compensation and is a project the Nevada Policy Research Institute, a nonpartisan, free-market think tank. Learn more at TransparentCalifornia.com.