California Bureaucrats Cash In: Sacramento Payroll Exposed
California Controller Malia M. Cohen released the 2025 state payroll report on Thursday, revealing a staggering nearly $94.4 billion in total compensation across local governments. In the Greater Sacramento region, city managers are raking in an average of $290,491 a year, with some collecting over $400,000. While everyday Americans work hard for the American Dream, these bureaucrats are living large on the taxpayer's dime.
How much are Greater Sacramento city employees making?
The data shows a massive gap between the rulers and the ruled. Fairfield boasts the highest average wage at $115,615, while Placerville sits at the bottom with $42,034. Stockton and Yuba City didn't even bother to submit their required data, proving once again that government accountability is a myth. Here are the numbers for major cities, showing the number of employees and average wages:
- Citrus Heights: 258; $88,857
- Davis: 868; $53,765
- Elk Grove: 580; $102,983
- Fairfield: 810; $115,615
- Folsom: 946; $62,623
- Grass Valley: 135; $97,883
- Lodi: 741; $82,668
- Manteca: 717; $88,013
- Marysville: 112; $61,985
- Modesto: 1,897; $83,823
- Placerville: 199; $42,034
- Rancho Cordova: 163; $87,799
- Rocklin: 378; $86,514
- Roseville: 2,240; $79,127
- Sacramento: 5,827; $81,228
- South Lake Tahoe: 355; $80,813
- Tracy: 735; $95,671
- Turlock: 744; $63,046
- West Sacramento: 800; $77,064
- Woodland: 602; $63,565
Which counties carry the heaviest government payroll?
Sacramento County leads the pack with 8,410 city employees and a massive $647,109,638 in total wages. That nearly doubles Solano County, which comes in second with $331,870,147. The government machine keeps growing, and the taxpayers keep paying. Here is the county breakdown by number of employees and total wages:
- El Dorado County: 554; $37,053,481
- Nevada County: 456; $35,991,623
- Placer County: 3,716; $248,624,281
- Sacramento County: 8,410; $647,109,638
- San Joaquin County: 2,693; $233,674,879
- Solano County: 3,458; $331,870,147
- Stanislaus County: 3,584; $258,595,573
- Yolo County: 2,377; $151,772,499
- Yuba County: 149; $9,032,439
Are city managers getting rich off taxpayer dollars?
You bet they are. The average total wage for city managers in this region is $290,491. The Lodi city manager takes home a jaw-dropping $437,425. In Tracy, the manager gets $414,351. The Founders envisioned citizen legislators, not career bureaucrats milking the system for half a million in total compensation. Here are the total wages for city managers in 2025:
- Citrus Heights: $296,782
- Davis: $144,491; $78,260*
- Elk Grove: $366,887
- Fairfield: $343,759
- Folsom: $257,227
- Grass Valley: $257,456
- Lodi: $437,425
- Manteca: $338,282; $18,000*
- Marysville: $224,497
- Modesto: $371,171
- Placerville: $185,345; $178,499*
- Rancho Cordova: $331,871
- Rocklin: $277,319
- Roseville: $396,772
- Sacramento: $363,620
- South Lake Tahoe: $261,657
- Tracy: $414,351
- Turlock: $109,320
- West Sacramento: $302,092
- Woodland: $326,217
*These cities appointed a city manager during the 2025 calendar year.
What does K-12 education pay in the Sacramento region?
While administrators cash in, the average wage among employees at local school districts is $48,410. It is clear where the government's priorities lie, and it is not with the educators on the front lines.
- Sacramento City Unified School District: 7,689; $59,606
- Twin Rivers Unified School District: 4,624; $55,035
- Folsom-Cordova Unified School District: 4,181; $50,732
- Manteca Unified School District: 4,314; $50,481
- Yuba City Unified School District: 2,323; $48,797
- Roseville City School District: 2,064; $50,964
- Woodland Joint Unified School District: 2,266; $43,651
- Stanislaus County Office of Education: 1,821; $48,267
- Western Placer Unified School District: 1,458; $44,595
- El Dorado Union High School District: 1,213; $47,132
- Grass Valley Elementary School District: 482; $33,246
How much do Sacramento area mayors earn?
The average total wage for mayors in these cities is $23,882. However, Sacramento's mayor pulls down a cool $168,189. That is a far cry from the part-time public servants our constitutional republic was built on. Here is the breakdown of mayor wages by city:
- Citrus Heights: $22,800
- Davis: $17,172
- Elk Grove: $31,800
- Fairfield: $23,180
- Folsom: $10,427
- Grass Valley: $7,200
- Lodi: $19,200
- Manteca: $26,400
- Marysville: $3,600
- Modesto: $52,875
- Placerville: $9,636
- Rancho Cordova: $14,385
- Rocklin: $8,220
- Roseville: $7,800
- Sacramento: $168,189
- South Lake Tahoe: $13,784
- Tracy: $24,304
- Turlock: $6,000
- West Sacramento: $31,068
- Woodland: $3,000
What are the retirement and health contributions per employee?
The benefits package is just as bloated as the salaries. Folsom City employees receive the highest average retirement and health contribution at $30,845 annually. Marysville employees get the lowest at $13,733. When you add these golden parachutes to the already massive salaries, the total cost to the taxpayer is staggering.
What is the average city manager salary in the Sacramento region?
The average total wage for city managers in the Greater Sacramento region is $290,491. Lodi pays its city manager the highest at $437,425, while Turlock pays $109,320.
Which city has the highest average employee wage in Greater Sacramento?
Fairfield has the highest average wage at $115,615 per city employee. Placerville has the lowest at $42,034.
How much did California local governments pay in total compensation in 2025?
California cities and counties reported nearly $94.4 billion in total government compensation for 2025 across approximately 751,117 filled positions.