Local markets determine salary range for city of Mesa employees

By Connor Van Ligten
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The highest paid employee in the city of Mesa for 2025 was former City Manager Chris Brady whose salary had an annual rate of $350,000.04.

The second highest paid city employee in Mesa is the current city manager, Scott Butler, who is being paid $345,000.24 annually, according to a public records request from the city of Mesa.

The city manager job also provides hefty benefits. According to Butler’s contract, which was acquired via public records request, the city manager will accrue 20 hours of vacation time each month and is exempt from a maximum accumulation of vacation time of 240 hours during the year. And if the city manager has to take sick days, he gets paid at an hourly rate for 50% of accumulated sick time hours.

The three other highest paid city employees in Mesa are City Attorney James Smith ($280,000.24), Associate City Manager March Herishberg ($260,104.00) and Police Chief Kenneth Cost ($248,310.40).

The top salaries for city employees in Mesa in 2025.

(Erik Maurer/Independent Newsmedia)

Brady’s salary made him the 13th-highest paid city employee in the Valley in 2025, with Butler being the 16th highest. Brady was the fifth highest paid city manager in the Valley in 2025 with Butler being the sixth. Ahead of the two were Phoenix City Manager Jeffrey J. Barton ($431,734.40), Glendale City Manager Kevin Phelps ($376,043.75), Scottsdale City Manager Gregory Caton ($372,008) and Tempe City Manager Rosa Ichausti ($370,000). Notably, Phoenix Assistant City Manager Lori Bays ($359,746) and Gilbert Town Manager Patrick S. Banger ($357,420.54) were also paid more than Butler and Brady.

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According to Teri Overbey, Mesa’s human resources director, the way the city determines its pay scale for different positions is usually based on the local market value. In other words, cities surrounding Mesa in the Valley.

“Our pay ranges are established at a 5% differential. We are market based, which means we utilize our local market to do comparisons for salary and determining the appropriate salary ranges for a job classification,” Overbey said. “Our philosophy with the city of Mesa is to be at or above the market average, so that is how we establish the salary ranges for our classification. Our local market is defined as Chandler, Glendale, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe.”

Overbey said the city primarily looks at pay ranges when determining its pay scale, not set salary amounts. The city does a benchmarking process every few years to check if pay scales remain at market value. If the benchmark reveals that a position is being paid under the local market value, then they recommend an adjustment accordingly.

“If, say, Chandler hired a new city manager, we would only be looking at what the range is and comparing that in the average to determine our own pay range,” Overbey said.

Brian Ritschel, budget director at the Mesa Office of Management, said he estimates that a sizable chunk of Mesa’s operating budget goes to paying city employees to do the work they do.

“Roughly 70% of the expenditures for the city is for personal services, which includes salaries and benefits,” Ritschel said. “Salaries, benefits, overtime, things like that are roughly 70% of the operating budget for the city.”

Mesa City Manager Scott Butler sent a statement to the Mesa Independent when asked about the city’s pay rates. In the statement, Butler complimented the city for paying employees at market rates but also said it is the responsibility of each city employee to deliver their end of the bargain with service to their residents.

“Mesa competes for talent just as we compete for jobs and investment, and our approach is just as disciplined. We benchmark salaries, compare ourselves to the market, and hold ourselves accountable by providing competitive pay and excellent benefits,” Butler’s statement reads. “At the end of the day, it’s our responsibility to deliver great service to our residents, and our employees are at the heart of that effort. Their dedication and talent are what keep Mesa moving forward.”

For information on city employment, visit https://www.mesaaz.gov/Careers-Benefits.