The Top 19 Highest-Compensated US Mayors

Leading a city can be more financially rewarding than governing a state. Noteworthy among these urban leaders is Zohran Mamdani, the fresh face at the helm of New York City, who now stands among city heads whose compensation surpasses that of their state governors.

Mayor salaries in the United States display considerable variation. Some mayors in smaller locales earn in the mere thousands annually, while leaders in major cities enjoy substantial six-figure salaries. This disparity arises since mayoral compensation is locally determined by city councils or legislative bodies without a standardized reporting structure.

Notably, a larger urban population doesn’t automatically translate to a heftier paycheck for its mayor. Some prosperous smaller communities can sometimes offer salaries that outpace those in much larger cities. Recent reports have highlighted mayors earning over $200,000 annually. We provide insights into 19 of these city leaders, drawing on the latest Census data to contextualize city size.

Dearborn, Michigan

With a population of 106,377, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud is set to receive $212,083 by 2026, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Chicago, Illinois

The bustling city of Chicago, boasting 2,721,308 inhabitants, employs Brandon Johnson as mayor, earning $221,052 by 2026, as reported by Block Club Chicago. Johnson chose to opt-out of an automatic inflation adjustment.

Oakland, California

Barbara Lee, presiding over Oakland with its 443,554 residents, earns a salary of $222,312 as of 2024 based on California state documents. Former mayor Sheng Thao held office when this salary data was logged.

San Jose, California

San Jose is a city home to 997,368 people, led by Mayor Matt Mahan, who earns $226,479 per California state records, effective 2024.

Medley, Florida

Tiny Medley, with just 1,036 residents, has Ana 'Lily' Stefano as mayor, collecting an annual salary of $230,872 as detailed by the Miami New Times in 2025.

Houston, Texas

Houston, home to 2,390,125 residents, is governed by John Whitmire, reaping a salary of $236,189 since 2022, reported by the Houston Chronicle.

His predecessor, Sylvester Turner, was the officeholder when this figure was documented. Whitmire assumed the role on January 2, 2024.

Bellingham, Washington

Leading 95,860 residents, Bellingham's mayor Kim Lund earns $237,000, as stated by Cascadia Daily News in 2025. She chose not to accept a 2026 cost-of-living increment.

San Diego, California

San Diego, with a population of 1,404,452, is run by Mayor Todd Gloria, whose salary is $244,147 as of 2024, based on California state data.

Maui, Hawaii

Richard Bissen, mayor of Maui, oversees 163,688 constituents for a salary of $245,000, according to the Honolulu Civil Beat in 2025.

Washington, DC

The nation's capital, Washington, DC, with a population of 702,250, compensates Mayor Muriel Bowser $250,000, as per District law since 2023.

Boston, Massachusetts

In Boston, the 673,458 residents are under the leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu, receiving a salary of $250,000 in 2026, noted by Boston.com.

Florida City, Florida

Mayor Otis T. Wallace of Florida City, serving 13,157 inhabitants, earns $250,328 and additional perks such as a $5,600 expense account, a phone, and a vehicle, as cited by the Miami New Times in 2025.

He has served as both mayor and city manager since 1984, a role reflected in his salary.

New York City, New York

The vast population of 8,478,072 in New York City is governed by Zohran Mamdani, who draws a salary of $258,750, per Business Insider.

Rosemont, Illinois

Despite its modest population of 4,145, Rosemont's Mayor Bradley Stephens earns $260,000, as reported by the Daily Herald in 2024.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cherelle Parker oversees Philadelphia's 1,573,916 residents with a salary of $269,708, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2025.

Quincy, Massachusetts

Thomas Koch, leading Quincy with its 101,607 residents, earns $285,000 due to a pay raise by the City Council in 2024, as reported by WBUR.

Oxnard, California

Leading Oxnard with a population of 200,616, Luis A. McArthur earns $323,282, sourced from California state records. John C. Zaragoza was the mayor when the salary was reported. McArthur assumed office in December 2024.

Los Angeles, California

Karen Bass, as mayor of Los Angeles, governs 3,878,704 residents at a salary of $328,395 in 2024, according to state records.

San Francisco, California

Daniel Lurie, elected as mayor of San Francisco with its 827,526 residents, was listed with a salary of $383,760 in 2024. Notably, Lurie graciously chose to draw only a $1 salary from the city, as detailed by KQED in 2024.