Paying the salaries of public employees is one of the largest expenses of state and local governments, and each year we collect and analyze that data and make it accessible to our readers.
Below are some of our recent findings and links to the data and more coverage.
State of Delaware
The state is Delaware’s largest employer with more than 31,000 workers.
Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University, was the state’s top salary earner in 2021 – by a landslide.
According to 2021 salary data, Allen earned a total of $588,204 with a base salary of $425,174.
Read moreWho is the highest-paid state employee in Delaware? See who made the top 10 and more
Search2021 Delaware government employee salaries
Wilmington
Top law enforcement officers often are the highest salaried employees in local government.
But since Wilmington’s top cop scored a $43,000 raise when former Chief Robert Tracy was hired in 2017, the salary has eclipsed the pay for similar positions in surrounding cities.
Tracy, who left the department in January for a leadership position with the St. Louis Police Department, made $206,571 in 2021, surpassing the city’s second highest paid employee – Deputy Fire Chief John Hoban – by nearly $50,000, according to 2021 salary data provided by Wilmington.
Read moreWhy the Wilmington police chief’s salary eclipses those in nearby cities
Search2021 City of Wilmington employee salaries
New Castle County
The number of high-paying jobs in New Castle County government continues to rise, with 39 employees earning more than $150,000 a year, according to an analysis of 2021 salary data.
In 2020, 26 employees earned more than $150,000, and in 2019 only nine employees were in that high earning category.
The median county salary was $58,517 in 2021.
Read more39 New Castle County employees made more than $150,000 in 2021. Search the salary data.
Search2021 New Castle County employee salaries
Kent County
In the 2021 fiscal year, Kent County budgeted $32,488,400 for personnel, about 42.34% of the county’s total expenditures of $76,731,200.
The county had 437 full-time, part-time and temporary employees in 2021.
Sixteen Kent County employees earned over $100,000, while 23 received bonuses of $2,500 or more. The average salary was $40,171.
Read moreSalaries of many top-paid Kent County employees supplemented by bonuses, overtime
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Sussex County
Sussex County’s top administrator, Todd Lawson, remains the top-paid county employee, while more employees are now earning over $100,000 per year, according to 2021 salary data.
In 2020, Lawson was pulling in $161,623 a year and was the only county employee making over $150,000. Ten county employees, out of 552 total, made six figures.
Salaries and benefits were Sussex County’s largest expenditure ($36.3 million, or 55% of the annual budget) in fiscal year 2021.
Read moreThese 2 Sussex County employees made over $150K in 2021. Search the latest salary data.
Search2021 Sussex County employee salaries
Dover
Of the 65 city of Dover employees in 2021 who were paid $100,000 or more, 44 were in the police department.
The city sets salaries based on qualifications, education, years of experience and comparisons to similar jobs in the region, said Kay Sass, Dover public affairs and emergency management coordinator.
Read more65 Dover employees made over $100,000 in 2021. The majority were in this department.
