Most of Phoenix's top-paid city employees are cops

"You don’t go into policing because you want to become incredibly wealthy,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said in a 2024 interview with Arizona’s Family.

But you might get a pretty sweet payout when you leave the force.

According to Phoenix’s employee compensation data, six police department employees were among the top 10 highest-paid employees in 2025, each raking in at least $390,000. According to the department, all six have retired.

The troubled police department’s employees dominate the top 10 every year going back to 2016, which are the oldest records offered by Phoenix’s Open Data website.

https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/highest-paid-phoenix-city-employees-2025-19254435/

FYI:

The Phoenix City Council approved a $1 billion+ budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, increasing the police department budget by $46 million. Passed in May 2025 by an 8-1 vote, this funding covers salaries, pensions, and vehicle replacements, representing roughly half of the city's general fund despite some community opposition.