List of NSW’s top earning public servant workers and wages

NSW public servant workers are raking in the big bucks and now their wages, job titles and identities can be revealed. Full list ranked.

Many of the highest paid public sector workers in NSW aren’t names you would recognise, even though a number of them are being paid more than the prime minister of Australia.

These are the public sector workers toiling away behind the scenes to ensure the state runs smoothly, and they are well compensated for their trouble.

According to this year’s Annual Determination of the NSW Remuneration Tribunals, 13 of the state’s senior executives earned more than Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2021. Our nation’s highest office comes with an annual salary of $549,250 – well over half a million dollars.

However, Prime Minister Morrison’s hefty paycheck is no match for those of numerous senior executives in the public sector who outearn him by the full wage of an average Australian.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller makes more than $100,000 more than Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The highest earner is NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller, who has been the public face of policing during the difficult state lockdown. After a year of press conferences and continuous entreaties to the public to do the right things, Commissioner Fuller has earned his enormous $665,750 salary.

Not far behind is Tim Reardon, the former secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, who earns a massive $644,850 per year – just shy of $100,000 more than the Prime Minister.

He was replaced by secretary of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Jim Betts, who received a raise from his already huge annual salary of $620,650 before being sacked by Dominic Perrottet when the Premier took over from Gladys Berejiklian.

These large salaries appear even more inflated when taken into context with last year’s public sector wage freeze, which stagnated the salaries of exhausted and overworked healthcare staff.

However, big earnings are not limited to the state government.

While local councils might appear less glamorous, an investigation shows the pay-off can be nearly as large – with general managers earning an average of $328,287 per year.

That figure is more than three times the annual wage of an average Australian, which the Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates is $90,329.

In fact, a surprising number of local government officials earn more than the most well-known state official, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.

Below are the local government areas with some of the highest paid public figures.

Western Sydney

Canterbury-Bankstown Council general manager Matthew Stewart earns more than the NSW Premier.

The most populous council in NSW is also the biggest council in western Sydney with 373,931 residents recorded in the last census. To wrangle the state’s biggest local government area, the general manager of Canterbury-Bankstown Council is paid more than the NSW Premier.

The newly-minted NSW Premier receives an annual wage of $407,980, as laid out by the NSW Parliamentary Remuneration Tribunal. However the bigger pay packet goes to Matthew Stewart, general manager for Canterbury-Bankstown Council, who earns nearly $100,000 more than the state’s leader.

Mr Stewart receives $501,938 in salary, benefits tax, superannuation and car benefits annually in compensation for his management of the densely-populated council area. In comparison, Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour earns $118,465 for his role in representing the residents.

Northern Sydney

Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee earns more than four times the salary of his mayoral counterpart. Picture: Adam Yip

The general manager at the helm of the largest local government area in northern Sydney is another public sector worker earning more than the NSW Premier.

Northern Beaches chief executive officer Ray Brownlee earned more than $100,000 more than the Premier Perrottet to manage a local government area encompassing 271,278 residents.

Mr Brownlee, who has received a Public Service Medal for his contributions to the state, receives a hefty pay packet of $512,092. Meanwhile, Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan earns $119,010 for his role and responsibilities as the public face of the council.

Eastern Sydney

City of Sydney CEO Monica Barone earns more than half a million dollars.

Not to be outdone, the general manager of the biggest local government area in Sydney’s eastern suburbs is paid only slightly less than her northern Sydney counterpart.

Monica Barone has fulfilled the role of City of Sydney chief executive officer for the past 15 years. For managing a local government area with 240,229 residents, Ms Barone earns $511,594 – well above the pay of Premier Perrottet.

In comparison, Lord Mayor Clover Moore is currently serving her fourth term as the public leader of the council with a salary of $240,789. The popular mayor has given away more than $1 million of her salary to charity during her career.

SouthernSydney

Sutherland Shire CEO Manjeet Grewal earns four times more than the Sutherland mayor.

Bringing in more than the NSW Premier but less than other busy Sydney councils is the general manager of Sutherland Shire.

The CEO of south Sydney’s largest local government area oversees the 229,213 locals and receives an accordingly large salary. Manjeet Grewal earns $430,756 annually for her role directing the shire, which is more than $22,000 more than the state’s Premier.

To compare, the salary of Sutherland Shire Mayor Steve Simpson is $105,720 per annum for his work as the face of the Shire.

Regional NSW – North

Central Coast Council CEO David Farmer earns more than half a million dollars.

The biggest local government area north of Sydney is also one of the state’s most troubled. Central Coast Council was suspended in October of last year after it was discovered the council was in $565 million in debt.

Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock announced a formal public inquiry into the embattled council in April 2021. Prior to the suspension, Mayor Lisa Matthews was earning $119,400 at the helm of the council.

Meanwhile, the current CEO of Central Coast Council David Farmer is receiving the sizeable sum of $517,625 inclusive of superannuation and benefits to right the ship for the 342,047 residents.

Regional NSW – South

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery earns less than a third of his general manager counterpart’s salary. Picture: Joel Carrett

The general manager of one of the state’s most popular and populated local government areas is well compensated for his work for the 216,071 locals.

Although he has the smallest pay packet on this list, Wollongong Council general manager Greg Doyle still earns more than the NSW Premier Perrottet. The general manager is paid $410,223 per year for his role.

In comparison, the more visible Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery earns $133,833 annually for representing the residents of the coastal city.

Following a public outcry about the large price tags attached to local government officials, Minister Hancock announced a review of general manager salaries in July. She said she would strongly consider appointing an independent body to set the salaries of general managers, instead of the councillors.

“These managers should receive remuneration not only in line with their duties, skills and experience but in accordance with community expectations,” Mrs Hancock said.