Compensation for City Employees & Officials

Compensation Transparency


The City of Rancho Santa Margarita embraces a philosophy of openness and transparency, and as such, provides compensation information of elected and appointed officials and City staff. The following information is based on a disclosure model provided by the Orange County Grand Jury Report (PDF).

The compensation schedule for City Council members and City employees with a base salary of over $100,000 for the fiscal year is provided below. This is what is recommended to be disclosed by the Orange County model.

FY 2018/19 Compensation Information

(a) May include retirement contributions, deferred compensation, technology allowance, accrued leave time paid, retroactive pay, excess benefits, and other types of paid benefits. (b) City Council pension costs represent the contribution to a Deferred Compensation plan required by State law in lieu of a contribution to Social Security.
Position Salary Other Pay(a)
 Insurance Premiums
 Pension Costs(b)
 Total Compensation
Council Member $5,562 $18,852 $0 $690 $25,104
Council Member $3,244 $9,426 $0 $345 $13,015
Council Member $5,562 $18,373 $479 $690 $25,104
Council Member $5,562 $18,852 $0 $690 $25,104
Council Member $5,562 $18,852 $0 $690 $25,104
Council Member $2,781 $6,283 $3,143 $345 $12,552
City Manager $220,957 $23,923 $258 $18,814 $263,952
Development Services Director $174,046
 $19,485 $1,136 $14,879 $209,546
Finance Director $173,783
 $22,471 $1,316 $14,847 $212,417
HR/RM Administrator $126,885 $4,269
 $18,852 $10,864 $160,870
Public Works Director/City Engineer $117,998 $1,080 $18,852 $8,711 $146,631
Public Works Director/City Engineer $95,115 $7,478 $10,997 $6,171 $119,761
Acctg/Budget Supervisor $114,256 $12,279 $8,999 $21,970 $157,504
City Clerk $115,434 $20,474 $0 $9,872 $145,780
Public Works Superintendent $108,647 $1,926 $18,852 $8,084 $137,509

All City Employees


Access the salary information for all City employees and elected officials in the Compensation Schedule (PDF).