Average City Employee’s Salary Soars Past $100K

Maricopa’s municipal employees have reported significant earnings, with an average salary exceeding $102,000, according to recent public records. This figure marks a notable increase of approximately $16,000, or 19%, compared to the city’s median household income of $86,000.

In contrast to previous years, where 367 salaried employees averaged $76,000, this year’s numbers reflect adjustments in the reporting of some police and fire positions. The city clarified that these adjustments were necessary to accurately depict hourly pay rates, rather than annual salaries, as indicated by city spokesperson Monica Williams.

The highest salaries in Maricopa continue to be found within the city manager’s office. City Manager Ben Bitter leads the pack with an impressive salary of $242,000, up from his previous role as deputy city manager. Assistant City Manager Jennifer Brown follows closely with $196,084, while Deputy City Manager Matthew Kozlowski earns $185,390. Rounding out the top five are Chief of Police Mark Goodman at $179,322 and Chief Strategy Officer Rick Horst, who earns $174,500—though he may not receive the full amount due to his upcoming early retirement.

The Maricopa City Council recently also experienced modest pay increases. Mayor Nancy Smith’s salary rose by 6% from $36,167 to $38,337, while other council members saw similar raises, bringing their compensation from $22,066 to $23,390. It’s important to note that council members do not fall under the salaried worker category; they receive a monthly stipend instead.

As city officials finalized the 2025 budget, documents revealed that nearly $4 million of Maricopa’s expenditures were linked to personnel costs. This included allocations for new hires totaling $1.76 million and $1 million earmarked for salary increments.

Interestingly, even with the pay raises, the number of employees earning $100,000 or more declined to 47 this year, down from 54 last year, though this remains an increase from 44 in 2023. Overall, the city reported a total of 537 employees, including 80 part-time workers predominantly serving as recreation aides.