Houston Chronicle
Rebecca Hennes, Dylan McGuinness, Staff writers
The highest-paid employee listed this year is Arturo Michel, the city attorney. Michel is serving his second stint as the city's top lawyer, after previously serving under then-Mayor Bill White. He also was last year's highest-paid city employee.
The city provided each employee's base salary for a pay period, which covers two weeks. The Chronicle multiplied that by 26 to get an annual salary estimate.
See below for a look at the 25 highest-paid employees working for the city of Houston, with a brief explanation of what they do under the umbrella of local government:
1. Arturo Michel
Estimated annual salary: $318,270
Job title & department: City Attorney - Legal Department
2. Troy Finner
Estimated annual salary: $297,052
Job title & department: Police Chief - Houston Police Department
3. Mario Diaz
Estimated annual salary: $291,747
Job title & department: Director of Aviation - Houston Airport System
4. Carol Haddock
Estimated annual salary: $291,747
Job title & department: Public Works Director - Houston Public Works
5. David Persse
Estimated annual salary: $284,543
Job title & department: EMS Physician Director - Fire Department
6. James Szczesniak
Estimated annual salary: $242,050
Job title & department: Chief Operating Officer - Houston Airport System
7. Mathew Slinkard
Estimated annual salary: $240,000
Job title & department: Deputy Executive Assistant Police Chief - Houston Police Department
Slinkard is the second-highest ranking official in the police department.
8. Samuel Peña
Estimated annual salary: $238,703
Job title & department: Chief - Fire Department
9. Chris Souders
Estimated annual salary: $237,065
Job title & department: Associate EMS Physician Director - Fire Department
10. Sylvester Turner
Estimated annual salary: $236,188
Job title & department: Mayor - Mayor's Office
11. Letosha Lowe
Estimated annual salary: $234,641
Job title & department: Chief Physician, MD - Health and Human Services Department
12. Christopher Mitchell
Estimated annual salary: $231,750
Job title & department: Chief Information Security Officer - IT
13. Mark Zamora
Estimated annual salary: $222,789
Job title & department: First Assistant City Attorney - Legal Department
14. Deidra Penny
Estimated annual salary: $222,789
Job title & department: First Assistant City Attorney - Legal Department
15. Lisa Kent
Estimated annual salary: $217,484
Job title & department: Chief Information Officer - Information Technology Department
16. Donald Fleming
Estimated annual salary: $216,000
Job title & department: First Assistant City Attorney - Legal Department
17. Nirja Aiyer
Estimated annual salary: $216,000
Job title & department: First Assistant City Attorney - Legal Department
18. Andrew Icken
Estimated annual salary: $213,888
Job title & department: Deputy director - Mayor's office
19. William Jones
Estimated annual salary: $211,150
Job title & department: Finance Director - Finance
20. Marvalette Hunter
Estimated annual salary: $211,150
Job title & department: Chief of Staff - Mayor's Office
21. Michael Bell
Estimated annual salary: $208,260
Job title & department: Deputy Director/Chief Technical Officer - Police Department
22. James Jones
Estimated annual salary: $208,000
Job title & department: Executive Assistant Police Chief - Police Department
23. Larry Satterwhite
Estimated annual salary: $208,000
Job title & department: Executive Assistant Police Chief - Police Department
24. Janeana White
Estimated annual salary: $206,000
Job title & department: Chief Physician, MD - Health and Human Services Department
25. Tracy Calabrese
Estimated annual salary: $206,000
Job title & department: Senior Assistant City Attorney - Legal Department
Editor's Note: The data included in this story is current as of February 2023. It does not include gross earnings, including overtime and bonuses; only salaries. Salaries are estimates calculated from pay period data provided by the city of Houston.