How much does Mayor Rahm Emanuel make?

by Mark Cavers Mayor Rahm Emanuel has decided to put salary information for all 34,218 city of Chicago employees online for the public to see, analyze, and download. In the past, the information has been provided through news organizations and non-profits but this is the first time the data is available directly from the city. This level...

by Mark Cavers

Mayor Rahm Emanuel has decided to put salary information for all 34,218 city of Chicago employees online for the public to see, analyze, and download. In the past, the information has been provided through news organizations and non-profits but this is the first time the data is available directly from the city.

This level of transparency is a great start for the Emanuel administration, but for citizens to truly understand public employee compensation levels they should have access to health and retiree benefits as well. As we’ve shown, the city of Chicago faces a gargantuan budget crunch brought on by soaring pension costs. It is essential that Chicago show the same willingness to be open with pension and other benefit data that they have been with salaries.

In case you were wondering, our new Mayor Rahm Emanuel makes $216,000 per year. The highest paid Chicago employee is the new superintendent of police who makes $260,000.

If you are interested in seeing this information for state employees, the Illinois Policy Institute hosts a website with salary and pension benefit information for every one of the state employees.