10 percent pay raise boosts Raleigh city manager’s salary over $350,000
City Manager Marchell Adams-David, Raleigh’s top staff member, received a 10% raise this week, bringing her annual salary to $356,375 effective Jan. 1.
The Raleigh City Council went into closed session Tuesday for the manager’s annual review, after which Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin announced that Adams-David had received a 10% raise. It’s the second consecutive year the city manager has received a 10% increase.
“Our city manager’s raise was awarded to ensure equity and alignment with her peers’ salaries, and was also based on her achieving her annual goals,” Baldwin told The News & Observer.
The N&O asked for a copy of the goals, to which Baldwin replied: The goals “are developed in closed session and discussed with the city manager.”
The city’s Human Resources department benchmarks similar positions across the state, according to Robin Deacle, communications director for the city.
“The manager sets goals each year, which are discussed in closed session according to state statute covering the performance of a public employee,” Deacle said in an email.
State law says some government employee information is public, including demotions and promotions, salary information and contract terms. Other information in a public employee’s personnel file can only be shared in specific circumstances under state law.
Adams-David was hired by the Raleigh City Council in 2020 and was the first woman and first African-American to be named the city’s top staff person. She previously was the city’s assistant city manager, hired in 2014.
She oversees the city’s 4,000 full-time employees across 20 departments and recommends the city’s $1.3 billion annual budget to the City Council each year.
What do other Triangle city managers make?
Adams-David is the highest paid city manager in the Triangle.
- Cary Town Manager Sean Stegall’s salary in 2022 was $305,011. The News & Observer has requested the latest salary information.
- Durham City Manager Wanda Page’s salary is $275,808.
- Chapel Hill Town Manager Chris Blue’s salary is $235,000.
Earlier this year, Charlotte City Manager Marcus Jones received a 4% raise bringing his salary up to $451,933, according to The Charlotte Observer.
This story was originally published December 8, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
