Who makes the most? See the top 5 earners in each Wichita, KS, city department
A list of the top five earners in each city of Wichita department, including their total compensation and number of hours paid last year, appears below. Total compensation includes base and overtime pay, special pay such as car and telephone allowances, benefits and other money earned. Hours paid include all types of hours including regular, overtime, vacation, bereavement, holiday and other personal time off.
You can use The Eagle’s searchable public salary database, embedded below, to find the overall compensation, hourly rate and other earnings-related facts for any city employee who received pay in 2021.
The city of Wichita provided the payroll data to The Eagle following a records request.
You can see other information about city of Wichita payroll here.
Airport
E.B. “Brad” Christopher, assistant director of airports: $147,118.50 - 2,080 hours
John M. Oswald, manager of airport engineering and planning: $136,757.38 - 2,080 hours
Victor D. White, director of airports (retired in June 2021): $126,760.98 - 1,357.87 hours
Roger F. Xanders, chief of airport police and fire: $117,540.81 - 2,080 hours
Jean T. Zoglman, finance manager: $111,472.74 - 2,080 hours
City Council (all listed)
Brandon J. Whipple, mayor: $109,590.70 - 2,080 hours
Cindy A. Claycomb, District 6 council member (voted out, left in January 2022): $49,327.94 - 2,080 hours
Jeff A. Blubaugh, District 4 council member: $49,211.30 - 2,080 hours
Bryan K. Frye, District 5 council member: $49,128.30 - 2,080 hours
Brandon J. Johnson, District 1 council member: $49,026.30 - 2,080 hours
Becky L. Tuttle, District 2 council member: $49,026.30 - 2,080 hours
Jared A. Cerullo, District 3 council member (appointed to fill seat in March 2021, left in January 2022 after losing election): $37, 523.98 - 1,592 hours
James W. Clendenin, District 3 council member (resigned Dec. 31, 2020, amid investigation and potential ouster): $717.10 - 32 hours
City Manager’s Office
Robert L. Layton, city manager: $239,065.50 - 2,080 hours
Donte L. Martin, assistant city manager: $191,358.09 - 2,080 hours
Scot H. Rigby, assistant city manager (left job this spring): $189,811.31 - 2,080 hours
James “Jim” E. Jonas, direct of strategic communications: $124,116.78 - 2,080 hours
John C. Philbrick, real estate administrator: $114,979.24 - 2,080 hours
Cultural Arts, Park and Recreation*
Troy Houtman, director of park and recreation department: $162,305.35 - 2,080 hours
Marty R. Miller, division manager/Botanica: $120,771.86 - 2,080 hours
Jan K. Harper, program manager/Wichita Art Museum assistant director: $106,348.59 - 2,080 hours
David A. McGuire, division manager/superintendent of forestry and maintenance: $106,175.99 - 2,080 hours
Reginald O. Davidson, division manager/superintendent of recreation: $103,834.90 - 2,080 hours
* The Wichita Art Museum’s former director, Patricia McDonnell, was not a city of Wichita employee, so her salary information is not included in the data. The Wichita Art Museum is operated using a hybrid model where it is owned by the city but managed by Wichita Art Museum Inc., which paid McDonnell’s salary. The museum’s board of trustees hires its director.
Finance
Mark L. Manning, director of finance: $167,534.10 - 2,080 hours
Melinda A. Walker, purchasing manager: $138,568.32 - 2,080 hours
Dale R. Raine, senior management analyst: $129,824.31 - 2,080 hours
Verl L. Niedens, risk manager: $127,431.00 - 2,080 hours
Pamela J. Beim, pension manager: $111,024.18 - 2,080 hours
Fire Department
James D. Wilson, fire division chief: $232,353.40 - 4,136 hours
Elizabeth “Tammy” C. Snow, fire chief: $173,619.60 - 2,080 hours
Mark J. Misek, fire captain: $144,587.60 - 5,241.25 hours
Matthew W. Bowen, fire battalion chief: $123,410.89 - 3,344 hours
Joshua A. Pavelski, deputy fire chief: $119,203.87 - 2,080 hours
Housing and Community Services
Sally A. Stang, director of housing and community services: $169,954.02 - 2,081 hours
Laurie E. Wolf, assistant controller: $144,490.64 - 2,483.5 hours
Bradley E. Snapp, assistant director of housing and community services: $119,407.17 - 2,080 hours
Mark J. Stanberry, housing manager: $108,369.70 - 2,080 hours
Nashell T. Williams, program coordinator: $80,337.56 - 2,080 hours
Human Resources
Michael C. Bezruki, human resources director: $182,534.55 - 2,080 hours
Susan K. Leiker, senior human resources specialist: $108,515.87 - 2,080 hours
Valery M. Sokol, senior human resources specialist: $106,653.43 - 2,080 hours
Betty T. Schrader, senior human resources specialist: $102,159.77 - 2,080 hours
Pamela J. Pennington, senior human resources specialist: $100,781.44 - 2,080 hours
Information Technology
Michael D. Mayta, department director: $165,249.18 - 2,080 hours
Kevin J. Norman, senior enterprise architect (left in January 2022): $120,317.56 - 2,080 hours
Marvin T. Bush, deputy chief information officer: $110,462.18 - 2,088 hours
Clifford B. Thomas, senior developer: $107,599.73 - 2,080 hours
Mark L. Dawson, information security architect: $107,281.97 - 2,080 hours
Law Department
Jennifer L. Magana, city attorney and director of law: $200,794.04 - 2,080 hours
Sharon L. Dickgrafe, chief deputy city attorney: $170,292.33 - 2,080 hours
Brian K. McLeod, deputy city attorney: $153,227.08 - 2,080 hours
Jay C. Hinkel, deputy city attorney: $146,930.73 - 2,048 hours
Van M. Halley, labor relations attorney/deputy city attorney: $123,257.08 - 2,080 hours
Library
Kristi E. Dowell, library manager: $118,695.26 - 2,080 hours
Tammy L. Penland, senior management analyst: $105,017.99 - 2,080 hours
Julie D. Sherwood, library manager: $104,983.36 - 2,080 hours
Cynthia L. Bailey, senior librarian: $98,921.85 - 2,080 hours
Jeffrey L. Tate, library manager: $88,503.16 - 2,080 hours
Metropolitan Area Building & Construction
Paul D. Hays, senior plans examiner: $117,710.58 - 2,080 hours
Kortney D. Capello, assistant deputy director: $93,539.71 - 2,080 hours
Richard E. Chamberlin, plans examiner: $86,253.98 - 2,080 hours
Mark J. Janzen, plans examiner: $86,173.97 - 2,080 hours
Matthew B. Lee, plans examiner: $85,988.95 - 2,080 hours
Municipal Court
Jennifer L. Jones, municipal court judge: $151,504.74 - 2,080 hours
William M. Kehr, municipal court judge: $146,019.66 - 2,080 hours
Aaron T. Zarchan, municipal court judge: $143,218.74 - 2,080 hours
Nathan W. Emmorey, municipal court administrator: $142,924.33 - 2,080 hours
Bryce A. Abbott, municipal court judge: $142,149.39 - 2,080 hours
Planning
Scott A. Wadle, director of planning: $146,427.82 - 2,080 hours
Stephen M. Banks, senior planner: $95,009.39 - 2,080 hours
Neil E. Strahl, senior planner: $93,816.05 - 2,080 hours
Kathy L. Morgan, senior planner: $93,186.16 - 2,080 hours
John R. Cox, inspection supervisor/chief zoning and sign inspector: $88,178.36 - 2,080 hours
Police Department
Gordon S. Ramsay, chief of police (resigned March 1, 2022): $220,791.17 - 2,080 hours
Danny L. Brown, police lieutenant: $207,509.44 - 4,430.5 hours
Jennifer D. Wright, police detective: $184,593.64 - 4,326.25 hours
Chad A. Beard, police lieutenant: $170,749.21 - 3,457.25 hours
Matthew L. Balthazor, police sergeant: $159,571.24 - 3,880.75 hours
Public Works and Utilities
Alan D. King, director of public works: $195,739.33 - 2,080 hours
Joseph E. Hickle, section engineer: $169,353.08 - 4,144 hours
Gary L. Janzen, city engineer: $142,023.80 - 2,080 hours
Rebecca R. Lewis, division manager/wastewater treatment: $141,045.68 - 2,080 hours
Michael G. Jacobs, division manager/water production: $140,883.88 - 2,080 hours
Transportation
Michael C. Tann, director of transit: $168,383.16 - 2,080 hours
Gregg T. Ringold, general maintenance supervisor: $107,742.11 - 2,080 hours
Nathaniel B. Hinkel, senior communications specialist: $80,875.78 - 2,080 hours
Elgin J. Earl, division manager/division supervisor - operations superintendent: $79,838.17 - 2,080 hours
Pedro A. Aquino, bus operator: $79,237.32 - 3,358.56 hours
