Compensation for City Employees & Officials

City Manager

City Manager Compensation Resolution No. 25-09-10-02

City Manager Compensation Resolution No. 24--12-11-04

City Manager Compensation Resolution No. 23-05-10-03

2022 Amendment No. 3 to City Manager Employment Agreement

2021 Amendment No. 2 to City Manager Employment Agreement

City Manager Compensation Resolution No. 19-05-08-02

2014 Amended City Manager's Employment Contract (PDF)




City Employees

View the most recent Salary Resolution (PDF) for all City staff salary ranges, and current cafeteria plan allowance amounts. 


For a list of all the salary resolutions adopted by the City Council since incorporation in 2000:

View All Archived Resolutions


Adjustments to employee compensation are approved by City Council in accordance with City Council Policy 3.2 (PDF).


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 2024/25 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 $24,000 $0 $690 $30,252
Council Member $5,562 $24,000 $0 $690 $30,252
Council Member $2,781 $4,847 $7,153 $345 $15,126
Council Member $2,781 $12,000 $0 $345 $15,126
Council Member $5,562 $23,209 $791 $690 $30,252
Council Member $5,562 $24,000 $0 $690 $30,252
City Manager $288,245 $43,263 $987 $31,052 $363,546
Assistant City Manager $241,099
$31,025 $1,091 $25,564 $298,778
Finance Director $218,450
$30,398 $1,310 $23,188 $273,346
Public Works Director/City Engineer $203,761 $19,925 $6,082 $21,698 $251,466
City Clerk $155,546 $28,521 $0 $16,545 $200,613
Assistant City Engineer $150,398 $29,071 $312 $15,939 $195,720
Public Works Superintendent $142,011 $8,526 $16,838 $11,548 $178,923
Principal Planner $123,955 $7,697 $20,864 $10,008 $162,524
Principal Engineer $117,445 $24,491 $0 $9,514 $151,449
Assistant to the City Manager $113,828 $17,255 $11,387 $12,123 $154,593
Community Services Manager $112,163 $4,712 $27,052 $24,816 $168,743
Senior Accountant $109,233 $24,963 $0 $11,595 $145,790
Senior Management Analyst $106,462 $14,919 $10,102 $23,500 $154,983

All City Employees

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