Compensation for City Employees & Officials

City Manager


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 2020/21 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 $20,700 $0 $690 $26,952
Council Member $5,562 $20,700 $0 $690 $26,952
Council Member $5,562 $8,231 $12,469 $690 $26,952
Council Member $5,562 $20,005 $695 $690 $26,952
Council Member $5,562 $20,700 $0 $690 $26,952
City Manager $254,808 $26,410 $278 $23,799 $305,295
Development Services Director $185,278
 $25,464 $1,123 $17,412 $229,277
Finance Director $186,972
 $22,337 $1,317 $17,577 $231,203
HR/RM Administrator $109,758 $23,229
 $24,410 $10,323 $167,720
Public Works Director/City Engineer $134,632 $4,365 $23,040 $10,423 $172,460
City Clerk $130,941 $21,847 $0 $12,236 $165,024
Public Works Superintendent $122,842 $5104 $16,676 $9,459 $154,081
Principal Engineer
 $124,925 $21,502 $278 $11,668 $158,373
Principal Planner $103,709 $3,996 $20873 $8,033 $136,611

All City Employees


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