Government Employee Compensation Report 2025

Who earns more than Utah’s governor in Utah governments? Quite a few, actually. In 2024, the governor’s salary was $183,237.85, according to the State Auditor’s website (transparent.utah.gov). After reviewing the salaries of government employees in the 50 largest cities by population, all 29 counties, and all of the state’s school districts, we found that at least 176 employees make more than the governor.

These high-earning local government employees include city managers, city attorneys, school district superintendents, county attorneys, and county executive staff. A number of factors influence the salaries of these positions. Local governments often compare themselves to similar-sized entities within the state, evaluate comparable private-sector jobs, and account for years of service when determining compensation.

Government employee compensation should be of great interest to taxpayers. Personnel costs are almost always the largest budget item for any form of government. These employees work in city halls, on rural county roads, and in classrooms across the state. They are the backbone of government—providing the services that taxpayers fund.

From time to time, we believe it is important to take a snapshot of what government employees are being paid and release it to the public, allowing taxpayers to scrutinize the information and decide for themselves whether they are comfortable with current compensation levels or believe changes should be made. For context, the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah estimates Utah’s median household income to be $98,336.