The top executive hired by the governing board is often the highest-paid person in U.S. governments.
That’s not always the case, though, as situations like the city of Chandler’s top salaries. The top gross wage-earner — and many in the top 25 — are first-responders.
Assistant Police Chief Dave Ramer represented one of those high-earning first responders and also the nature of the veteran, highly compensated staff Chandler has across many departments — something due to change over the next few years, but not overnight.
And the city’s C-suite, or administrative executives — department heads and city and assistant managers — appears to be headed to cost the city even more in the years ahead.
Ramer was Chandler’s top gross income earner in 2024, making more than $344,000 during the year. Ramer, who was one of the five finalists interviewed for the chief position in early spring of 2024, retired Nov. 9 after more than 25 years of service.
Chandler’s communications director, Matt Burdick, said it’s not unusual for late-career or retiring management to be paid out large sums, somewhat skewing the list of who has the highest base salary.
“Those who are listed as retired would have received pay for any eligible leave and retirement benefits as part of their compensation last year,” Burdick told Independent Newsmedia.
Ramer made even more than City Manager Josh Wright, the top-paid 2022 employee in the Independent’s reporting in 2023. In 2024, Wright made almost $330,000, making him among the seven highest-paid city managers in the Valley.
That turned out to be the last full calendar year Wright will be with the city. Despite having a year left on a two-year contract — a year in which he would have made $375,000 — Wright left the city Aug. 1 for a University of Arizona administrative position.
The third highest-paid Chandler employee in 2024 was another retiring police officer. Ron Emary retired last summer, having put in 40-plus years, and made almost $295,000 in the final calendar year of his career.
Chandler City Council member Jennifer Hawkins said she wants the search for Wright’s permanent replacement to have more of what she considers transparency than the recent process to hire Acting City Manager John Pombier for $30,000 per month.
“My priorities will be for the search to be nationwide, to bring in at least a handful of good applicants for interviews and allowing the community and staff to interact with the finalists,” Hawkins said. “It’s a hot button when people see the large number as a listed salary. Unfortunately, that’s what the going rate is, and we have talented staff that other cities try to approach, and we have to remain competitive.”
The next person on the top 2024 salaries list is also Chandler Police. Lt. David Selvidge made almost $271,000 in 2024.
There are seven more Chandler Police employees on the top 25 list, including two assistant chiefs and four sergeants.
There are only two Chandler Fire Department employees who were among the city’s top earners. Capt. Tom Shaw, who retired in August, made almost as much ($247,000) as his boss, Chief Tom Dwiggins ($254,000).
Assistant City Manager Tadd Willie made almost $267,000 in 2024. The rest of the list are mostly department directors.
Burdick himself is one of those directors, making almost $223,000 last year. That’s an increase of about $38,000 in only a two-year span for largely the same position and duties.
The salary budget for the Chandler Municipal Court is set to rise as well. Presiding Magistrate Alicia Skupin just inked a two-year contract with the city that will pay her $271,000 for fiscal 2026, which ends June 30 of next year, and $294,000 for fiscal 2027, which runs July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
City Magistrates Michelle Lue Sang, Alexa Nolle and Scott Silva are also contracted through June 30, 2027. They’ll each make $209,000 this year and $217,000 in 2026-27.
All of the city’s top 25 salaries are greater than $200,000. Those top both the mean and median for the richest of Chandler’s six ZIP codes, 85249.
Hawkins said the next Chandler city manager and other C-suite hires shouldn’t necessarily keep the city in a salary arms race for top-paid talent.
“Even during negotiations, we can get creative and offer things that make talent want to stay,” Hawkins said. “It’s nice to see that we aren’t simply battling against cities next door.”
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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