Making paper: What our city employees get paid

by Jordan Green

What cities pay their top employees says a lot about what’s important to their leadership.

For example, the city of Greensboro pays its coliseum director almost 50 percent more than its chief executive. The Greensboro Coliseum is a major economic driver that generates hotel and restaurant receipts, while drawing basketball fans from across the East Coast, concertgoers from around the region, along with swimmers and figure skaters, their families and entourages.

That the director of the High Point Theatre earns roughly a third of the director of the Greensboro Coliseum provides a good gauge of the relative importance of entertainment and events to the two cities’ respective economies. Of course, that doesn’t count the biannual furniture market in High Point — the largest event in the state — which is managed by a nonprofit that receives financial support from the city.

Winston-Salem has a coliseum, too, but as a measure of its relative importance consider that the city sold it to Wake Forest University in 2013. One Winston-Salem council member went so far as to say that the coliseum was “functionally obsolete.” Bookings for the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem are now handled by — wait for it — the Greensboro Coliseum.

It comes as no surprise that once you exclude the behemoth Greensboro Coliseum, salaries for city manager and assistant city managers top the list. With the exception of the city attorney, the city manager is the only employee hired and fired by city council. The city manager, who answers to nine bosses — the mayor and members of city council — is the one ultimately responsible for the administration, including putting together annual budgets and ensuring the smooth operation of city services. Assistant city managers typically supervise department heads, including police, fire, sanitation, planning, and parks and recreation, while answering to the city manager. Considering their level of responsibility — and the heat they’re going to experience if things go wrong — it makes sense that they would pull down salaries in the six figures.

Police and fire chiefs are also typically among a city’s highest-paid employees, reflecting both the value citizens place on public safety and the fact that they are responsible for departments with relatively high numbers of employees and large budgets.

But this year, the highest-paid city attorney earns more than the highest-paid police chief. Angela Carmon, Winston-Salem’s city attorney, is the highest compensated public legal employee in the Triad. Her $159,454 salary reflects the steady pay raises accumulated by a veteran whose legal acumen and work ethic has earned the respect of her city council. As one of two employees hired directly by the mayor and city council, the city attorney holds ultimate responsibility for protecting the city against legal exposure. The salaries earned by city attorneys and assistant city attorneys reflect the fiduciary importance of their work — advising elected officials and city administration on matters of the law, negotiating property transfers and defending the city against lawsuits.

The pecking order of pay between police and legal has been reversed since last year, with the departure of Greensboro police Chief Ken Miller, who earned $179,820 at the time of his retirement. Miller had received a hefty — and controversial — pay raise and then left to take the job of police chief of Greenville, SC. In comparison to Miller’s relative star status, the current police chiefs in Greensboro and Winston-Salem are more modestly compensated civil servants who were drawn from the ranks of their respective departments.

Outside of the executive and legal ranks, three city of Winston-Salem employees earn more than the police chiefs in any of the three cities: Community & Business Development Director Ritchie Brooks ($159,066), Planning & Development Services Director Paul Norby ($152,699) and Chief Information Officer Dennis Newman ($152,307). For what it’s worth, Newman heads the city’s IT department; the pay in public affairs isn’t quite so generous.

Pay for senior administration in finance, public works, human resources, parks and recreation, engineering and transportation tends to fall somewhere below police and fire — the two heavyweight public safety departments.

Clustering at the bottom of the spectrum are the “soft” functions: human relations, public affairs, legislative administration, libraries and museums.

Maybe the old aphorism applies: You get what you pay for.

{Top city salaries}

Entertainment facilities

1. Coliseum Director Matt Brown, Greensboro — $269,575

2. Deputy Coliseum Director Scott Johnson, Greensboro — $126,197

3. High Point Theatre Director David Briggs — $93,872

4. Fair Director David L. Sparks, Winston-Salem — $91,066

5. Coliseum Maintenance Supervisor Michael R. Perdue, Greensboro — $86,375

6. Coliseum Business Office Manager Colleen S. Vann, Greensboro — $80,132

Executive

1. City Manager Jim Westmoreland, Greensboro — $183,475

2. City Manager Lee Garrity, Winston-Salem — $179,739

3. Assistant City Manager Greg Turner, Winston-Salem — $176,130

4. Assistant City Manager Derwick Paige, Winston-Salem — $174,986

5. City Manager Greg Demko, High Point — $171,700

6. Assistant City Manager Randy McCaslin, High Point — $162,662

7. Assistant City Manager Wesley E. Reid, Greensboro — $142,769

8. Assistant City Manager David Parrish, Greensboro — $138,764

9. Assistant City Manager Christian Wilson, Greensboro — $132,775

10. Assistant City Manager Andy Scott, Greensboro — $130,063

11. Assistant City Manager Mary Vigue, Greensboro — $125,637

12. Assistant City Manager Ben Rowe, Winston-Salem — $124,789

13. Assistant to the City Manager Courtney L. Driver, Winston-Salem — $91,725

Moving in:

• Greg Demko was hired as the city manager of High Point at a salary of $171,700, replacing Strib Boynton who earned $168,168 in the role. Randy McCaslin returned to his position as assistant city manager after serving as interim city manager prior to Demko’s appointment.

Moving up:

• Christian Wilson received a promotion from parks & recreation director to assistant city manager in Greensboro, earning a 4 percent raise from $128,155 to $132,775.

Legal

1. City Attorney Angela Carmon, Winston-Salem — $159,454

2. City Attorney Tom Carruthers, Greensboro — $152,000

3. City Attorney JoAnne Carlyle, High Point — $151,501

4. Chief Deputy City Attorney Becky J. Peterson-Buie, Greensboro — $143,393

5. Deputy City Attorney Al Andrews, Winston-Salem — $115,100

6. Public Safety Attorney Lori P. Sykes, Winston-Salem — $97,443

7. Police Attorney Brian T. Beasley, High Point — $92,818

8. Assistant City Attorney Jerry Kontos, Winston-Salem — $90,817

9. Assistant City Attorney James A. Dickens Jr., Greensboro — $89,287

10. Assistant City Attorney James A. Clark, Greensboro — $89,040

11. Assistant City Attorney John P. Roseboro, Greensboro — $87,324

12. Assistant City Attorney Maria E. Guthold, Winston-Salem — $81,136

13. Assistant City Attorney Brent L. Cole, High Point — $79,533

14. Assistant City Attorney Deron K. Henry, Winston-Salem — $69,730

Moving up:

• Tom Carruthers was promoted from interim city attorney to city attorney in Greensboro, with a salary increase from $139,800 to $152,000. He replaced Mujeeb Shah-Khan, who continued to receive a salary of $166,860 in July 2014 following his termination.

Community, housing & business development

1. Community & Business Development Director Ritchie Brooks, Winston-Salem — $159,066

2. Neighborhood Development Director Barbara W. Harris, Greensboro — $110,972

3. Community Development Director Michael E. McNair, High Point — $109,570

4. Senior Project Supervisor Mellin L. Parker, Winston-Salem — $102,122

5. Economic Development & Business Support Manager Kathi K. Dubel, Greensboro — $93,113

Planning

1. Planning & Development Services Director Paul Norby, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County — $152,699

2. Planning & Development Director Lee Burnette, High Point — $133,736

3. Planning Director Suzanna S. Smotherman, Greensboro — $113,881

4. Core City Administrator Wendy Fuscoe, High Point — $104,397

5. Deputy Planning & Development Services Director Chris Murphy, Winston-Salem — $84,050

6. Planning Administrator Heidi Galanti, High Point — $83,778

7. Community Planning Manager Johanna I. Cockburn, Greensboro — $81,877

8. Development Administrator Robert L. Robbins Jr., High Point — $81,628

9. Community Planning Manager Cynthia L. Blue, Greensboro — $81,439

10. Principal Planner Cheryl L. Ruscher, Winston-Salem — $81,095

Information technology

1. Chief Information Officer Dennis Newman, Winston-Salem — $152,307

2. Communications & Information Services Director Steven R. Lingerfelt, High Point — $128,145

3. Deputy Director Thomas L. Kureczka, Winston-Salem — $126,910

4. Systems Project Administrator Thomas E. Spencer, High Point — $120,151

5. Senior Systems Analyst James R. Gheen, High Point — $117,778

6. Chief Information Officer Jane R. Nickles, Greensboro — $117,766

7. Senior Information Technology Manager Christine A. Hofer, Greensboro — $113,963

8. Project Coordinator Terry L. Nichols Jr., Winston-Salem — $104,147

9. Systems Analyst David L. Britton, High Point — $101,754

10. Network Manager Ivan L. Spencer, High Point — $95,982

11. Public Safety Manager Julia B. Conley, Winston-Salem — $94,475

12. Project Coordinator Randy W. Pressley, Winston-Salem — $94,375

13. Systems Analyst Glenn J. Hasteadt, High Point — $93,427

14. Supervisor Todd A. Porter, Winston-Salem — $93,397

15. Server Manager Frederick B. Reynolds, High Point — $93,238

16. Supervisor Thomas R. Serrin, Winston-Salem — $92,737

17. System Security Engineer Kenneth S. White, High Point — $90,665

18. Systems Analyst Frank L. Jacques Jr., High Point — $89,217

19. Systems Analyst Kyle R. Stone, High Point — $89,217

20. Systems Analyst Barbara D. Yount, High Point — $89,217

21. Senior Analyst Gary S. Koontz, Winston-Salem — $87,849

22. Supervisor Nancy L. Brown, Winston-Salem — $87,646

23. Network Services Manager Anita V. McCoy, Greensboro — $87,330

24. Supervisor Tracy H. Black, Winston-Salem — $86,176

25. Senior Network System Engineer Jonathan A. Davis, Greensboro — $85,000

26. GIS Manager Steven B. Averett, Greensboro — $84,649

27. Project Coordinator Zille Hasnain, Winston-Salem — $84,415

28. Supervisor Patrick J. Frantz, Winston-Salem — $82,224

29. Systems & Applications Development Manager Aimee G. Walker, Greensboro — $81,859

30. Senior Administrator Daniel L. Moore III, Winston-Salem — $80,604

31. Database Administrator Sagar Iddyadinesh, Greensboro — $80,574

32. ERP Administrator Vanessa J. Strachan, Greensboro — $80,445

33. Senior Analyst James S. Johnson, Winston-Salem — $80,217

Police

1. Chief Barry Rountree, Winston-Salem — $148,966

2. Chief Wayne Scott, Greensboro — $145,000

3. Chief Marty Sumner, High Point — $137,295

4. Assistant Chief Kenneth J. Shultz, High Point — $105,641

5. Deputy Chief Anita Holder, Greensboro — $102,060

6. Assistant Chief Wilson Weaver, Winston-Salem — $101,915

7. Assistant Chief Lawrence L. Casterline Jr., High Point — $100,510

8. Deputy Chief James E. Hinson, Greensboro — $99,593

9. Deputy Chief Brian A. Cheek, Greensboro — $98,431

10. Assistant Chief Kenneth M. Steele, High Point — $97,190

11. Deputy Chief Brian L. James, Greensboro — $96,120

12. Deputy Chief Richard B. Whisenant, Greensboro — $96,120

13. Assistant Chief Scott G. Bricker, Winston-Salem — $95,398

14. Assistant Chief Connie F. Southern, Winston-Salem — $94,407

15. Commander Cherie N. Maness, High Point — $91,641

16. Commander Thomas H. Hanson, High Point — $90,095

17. Capt. Patricia J. Murray, Winston-Salem — $89,835

18. Capt. David J. Perry, Winston-Salem — $88,669

19. Capt. Jeffery T. Watson, Winston-Salem — $88,340

20. Commander Michael D. Kirk, High Point — $87,585

21. Capt. John E. Wolfe Jr., Greensboro — $86,601

22. Lt. Thomas E. Craven, Winston-Salem — $85,869

23. Lt. Tyrone L. Phelps, Winston-Salem — $85,292

24. Capt. Catrina A. Thompson, Winston-Salem — $84,941

25. Capt. Renae Sigmon, Greensboro — $84,541

26. Capt. Shon F. Barnes, Greensboro — $83,952

27. Capt. Joel T. Cranford Jr., Greensboro — $83,952

28. Capt. Richard B. Culler, Greensboro — $83,952

29. Capt. Hope Newkirk, Greensboro — $83,952

30. Commander James G. Stallings III, High Point — $83,416

31. Capt. Chris Lowder, Winston-Salem — $83,303

32. Capt. Natoshia V. James, Winston-Salem — $83,217

33. Sgt. Terry W. Fulk, Winston-Salem — $83,033

34. Lt. Danny R. Watts, Winston-Salem — $83,033

35. Commander Timothy C. Ellenberger, High Point — $82,944

36. Capt. Douglas L. Nance, Winston-Salem — $81,801

37. Capt. Nathaniel Davis III, Greensboro — $80,100

38. Capt. Pam McAdoo-Rogers, Greensboro — $80,100

Moving up:

• Wayne Scott was promoted from deputy police chief to chief in Greensboro, with a salary increase from $98,820 to $145,000 over the past 12 months. He replaced Ken Miller, who earned a salary of $179,820 when he left the job. Anita Holder returned to her job as deputy chief after serving as interim chief prior to Scott’s appointment.

Fire

1. Chief Greg Grayson, Greensboro — $143,544

2. Chief Marion T. Reid, High Point — $135,267

3. Chief Trey Mayo, Winston-Salem — $128,005

4. Deputy Chief Clarence M. Hunter, Greensboro — $105,618

5. Deputy Chief Bobby W. Nugent, Greensboro — $105,618

6. Deputy Chief Richard T. Wright, High Point — $105,296

7. Assistant Chief Michael Levins, High Point — $98,964

8. Training Supervisor Alan Nix, Greensboro — $95,508

9. Assistant Chief Robert S. Owens, Winston-Salem — $92,210

10. Assistant Chief Harry J. Brown Jr., Winston-Salem — $91,592

11. Assistant Chief Brian A. Evans, High Point — $91,514

12. Battalion Chief Kenneth L. Knight, High Point — $88,446

13. Division Chief Michael L. Rogers, Greensboro — $87,142

14. Battalion Chief Jeffrey S. Henley, Winston-Salem — $86,925

15. Battalion Chief Charles E. Bottoms, Winston-Salem — $86,607

16. Fire Marshal Grover K. Pettigrew, Greensboro — $85,410

17. Battalion Chief Sandy L. Shepherd, Winston-Salem — $84,460

18. Battalion Chief Christopher W. Langham, Winston-Salem — $84,286

19. Battalion Chief Frederick D. Gethers, Winston-Salem — $84,126

20. Division Chief Graham J. Robinson III, Greensboro — $83,304

21. Battalion Chief Monte C. Williams, Winston-Salem — $83,254

22. Commander Rick W. George, High Point — $83,244

23. Battalion Chief Damon P. Tobin, High Point — $83,113

24. Battalion Chief William R. Doane, High Point — $82,372

25. Assistant Chief Franklin L. Stowe, Winston-Salem — $80,466

26. Fire Marshal Christopher E. Weir, High Point — $80,285

Moving in:

• Trey Mayo was hired as fire chief for the city of Winston-Salem at a salary of $125,000, with a recent raise bringing his current salary to $128,005. He replaced Antony R. Farmer, who retired with a salary of $117,364.

Economic development (High Point)

1. President Loren Hill, High Point Economic Development Corp. — $142,185

2. Senior Vice President Sandra V. Dunbeck, High Point Economic Development Corp. — $93,937

Finance

1. Finance Director Rick Lusk, Greensboro — $135,492

2. Chief Financial Officer Lisa M. Saunders, Winston-Salem — $134,628

3. Financial Services Director Jeffrey A. Moore, High Point — $128,987

4. Senior Financial Services Manager Marlene F. Druga, Greensboro — $117,048

5. Senior Administrative Services Manager Christopher S. Payne, Greensboro — $104,348

6. Assistant Financial Officer Angie S. Fisher, Winston-Salem — $89,175

7. Treasury Services Manager Jackie Astrop, High Point — $85,902

8. Assistant Financial Officer Donna C. Hull, Winston-Salem — $81,297

Public works

1. Field Operations Director Dale Wyrick, Greensboro — $134,117

2. Water Resources Director Steven D. Drew, Greensboro — $133,963

3. Public Services Director Terry L. Houk, High Point — $132,904

4. Utilities Director Ronald L. Hargrove Jr., Winston-Salem/Forsyth County — $131,517

5. Public Services Assistant Director Martha C. McDowell, High Point — $108,214

6. Public Services Assistant Director Robby D. Stone, High Point — $106,138

7. Sanitation Director Johnnie F. Taylor, Winston-Salem — $105,512

8. Senior Water Resources Manager Michael M. Borchers, Greensboro — $105,000

9. Solid Waste Administrator Janis McHargue, Winston-Salem — $101,563

10. Senior Solid Waste Manager Christopher R. Marriott, Greensboro — $100,961

11. Stormwater Director Keith D. Huff, Winston-Salem — $95,813

12. Solid Waste Collections Manager Sheldon D. Smith, Greensboro — $94,735

13. Wastewater Superintendent James F. Crump, Winston-Salem — $94,616

14. Water Resources Operations & Administration Manager Adam L. Conn, Greensboro — $92,533

15. Solid Waste Engineering Supervisor Edward L. Gibson, Winston-Salem — $92,177

16. Water Treatment Plant Supervisor William C. Brewer, Winston-Salem — $91,533

17. Water/Sewers Mains Superintendent Greg D. Hall, High Point — $90,861

18. Solid Waste Collection Superintendent Sammy Vanderzee II — $90,104

19. Wastewater Plants Manager Johnny L. Hodges, High Point — $89,207

20. Public Services Manager Derrick Q. Boone, High Point — $88,602

21. Laboratory Manager William D. Frazier, High Point — $82,668

22. Wastewater Plant Superintendent Timothy H. Fitzgerald, High Point — $82,312

23. Stormwater Manager David J. Phlegar, Greensboro — $81,869

24. Industrial Waste Services Supervisor Martha E. Groome, Greensboro — $81,036

25. Water Plant Superintendent Robert W. Pickett, High Point — $80,388

Electric utilities (High Point)

1. Director Garey Edwards — $130,331

2. Operations Engineer Marty G. Hinson — $107,740

3. Engineering Manager DA Averill — $96,240

Human resources

1. Director Connie D. Hammond, Greensboro — $129,521

2. Director Angela F. Kirkwood, High Point — $126,187

3. Senior Human Resources Manager Joseph M. Marro, Greensboro — $114,509

4. Director Carmen Caruth, Winston-Salem — $112,086

5. Senior Human Resources Manager Jamiah K. Waterman, Greensboro — $111,969

6. Officer Amy S. Jarvis, High Point — $101,970

7. Total Compensation Manager Ida J. Blackburn, Greensboro — $99,877

8. Safety & Health Manager Matthew W. Schweitzer, Greensboro — $85,292

9. Senior Analyst Sherri M. Gaither, Winston-Salem — $85,024

10. Safety & Health Manager Debra S. Meurs, High Point — $84,910

11. Organization, Development & Training Manager Tiffany N. Brown, Greensboro — $81,559

12. Supervisor Kevin M. Adcock, Greensboro — $80,657

Moving up:

• Jamiah Waterman’s position was reclassified from assistant city manager to senior human resources manager. Similar to his previous position, he still handles equal employment opportunity, Fair Labor Standards Act, employment relations and leadership development matters. And his pay has risen from $95,954 to $111,969 over the past 12 months.

Engineering

1. Engineering & Inspections Director Herman K. McDowell III, Greensboro — $128,492

2. Engineering Services Director Brian K. Pugh, High Point — $121,224

3. City Engineer Robert J. Prestwood, Winston-Salem — $109,871

4. Civil Engineering Design Manager Andrea L. Keyser, Winston-Salem — $83,415

5. Civil Engineer Terry A. Kuneff, High Point — $83,204

6. City Engineering Financial Manager Kevin S. Lyons, Winston-Salem — $82,432

7. Business Center Manager Ute C. Munro, Greensboro — $82,111

8. Civil Engineering Field Manager David S. Doss, Winston-Salem — $80,485

Moving up:

• Herman K. McDowell III was promoted to engineering & inspections director in Greensboro last October, replacing Butch Simmons, who earned $122,425 at the time of his retirement.

Transportation

1. Director Mark V. McDonald, High Point — $125,488

2. Director Adam W. Fischer, Greensboro — $115,608

3. Director Toneq’ McCullough, Winston-Salem — $107,228

4. Public Transit Manager Libby James, Greensboro — $95,226

5. Deputy Director Connie K. James, Winston-Salem — $98,119

6. Planning Development Coordinator Greg Errett, Winston-Salem $87,442

7. Engineering Supervisor Joseph F. Mullinax III, Greensboro — $80,450

8. Transit Manager Angela W. Wynes, High Point — $74,385

9. Transit Maintenance Supervisor Timothy F. Arnold, High Point — $57,229

10. Transit Manager Matthew D. Cox, High Point — $56,814

Workforce development

1. Workforce Development Director Lillian G. Plummer, Greensboro — $120,380

Parks & recreation

1. Director Timothy A. Grant, Winston-Salem — $118,360

2. Director Wade Walcutt, Greensboro — $110,322

3. Director Lee Tillery, High Point — $108,143

4. Recreation Manager William E. Covington, High Point — $86,963

5. City Arts Superintendent Mary A. Kurr-Murphy, Greensboro — $68,045

Moving up:

• Wade Walcutt was promoted to parks & recreation director for the city of Greensboro in May after serving in that capacity on an interim basis since December 2013. His June 1 promotion came with a $24,944 pay increase.

Budget

1. Budget & Evaluation Director Larry M. Davis, Greensboro — $115,266

2. Budget & Performance Manager Eric Olmedo, High Point — $100,038

3. Budget-Evaluation Director Trevor M. Minor, Winston-Salem — $89,846

Property and facilities management

1. Property & Facilities Management Director James T. Mitchell, Winston-Salem — $114,264

2. Facilities Services Director Timothy M. McKinney, High Point — $111,717

3. Real Estate Supervisor Kirk Bjorling, Winston-Salem — $87,597

Libraries

1. Director Brigitte Blanton, Greensboro — $113,113

2. Director Mary M. Sizemore, High Point — $106,620

Risk management (Winston-Salem)

1. Risk Administrator Anthony J. Baker, Winston-Salem — $110,778

Human relations

1. Director Wanda Allen-Abraha, Winston-Salem — $107,331

2. Director Love Crossling, Greensboro — $99,810

3. Director Al Heggins, High Point — $97,400

Fleet services (High Point)

1. Director Gary L. Smith — $104,911

Marketing/public affairs

1. Communications & Marketing Director Donnie Turlington, Greensboro — $101,500

2. Marketing & Communications Director Ed McNeal, Winston-Salem — $93,508

3. Communications Officer Jeron Hollis, High Point — $84,342

Moving up:

• Donnie Turlington was promoted to the position of communications and marking director in June, after previously serving as communications division manager. The promotion came with a $24,007 pay raise.

Customer service

1. Director Troy R. Martin Jr., High Point — $106,621

2. Contact Center Manager Mary E. Jutte, Greensboro — $83,830

3. Call Center Director Shantell N. Davis, Winston-Salem — $80,843

Purchasing

1. Purchase Director Jerry J. Bates, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County — $83,834

Revenue

1. City Revenue Collector Craig D. Sheppard, Winston-Salem — $83,414

Regulatory

1. Construction Inspection Superintendent Alvin D. Clark, Greensboro — $82,479

2. Inspections Administrator Edwin J. Brown Jr., High Point — $80,464

City clerk/city secretary

1. City Clerk Betsy Richardson, Greensboro — $81,736

2. City Secretary Renee L. Phillips, Winston-Salem — $81,543

3. City Clerk Lisa B. Vierling, High Point — $74,264

Museums

1. Greensboro Historical Museum Director Carol G. Hart — $70,250

2. High Point Museum Director Edith Brady — $52,953

Miscellaneous

1. Senior Project Analyst Claire C. Robinson, High Point — $89,217

Notes on methodology: This ranking includes all city employees who receive salaries of $80,000 or more. An exception is made for employees who hold significant positions such as museum director or arts superintendent. 

{Starting salaries}

Custodian

1. Winston-Salem — $21,323

2. Greensboro — $20,817

3. High Point — $20,372

Laborer

1. High Point — $22,460

2. Winston-Salem — $21,323

Meter reader

1. Winston-Salem — $25,393

2. Greensboro — $24,871

3. High Point — $23,583

Recreation activity leader

1. High Point — $23,583

2. Winston-Salem — $21,603

Sanitation laborer

1. High Point — $24,762

2. Winston-Salem — $21,323

Parking enforcement

1. Greensboro (specialist) — $24,871

2. Winston-Salem (officer) — $21,323

Fun fact: Curbside parking in downtown High Point is free.

Lead grillroom attendant

1. High Point — $20,372

Landfill

1. High Point (landfill mechanic) — $30,100

2. Winston-Salem (landfill mechanic) — $28,530

3. Greensboro (landfill tech) — $26,612

Sanitation/solid waste

1. Greensboro (solid waste operator) — $26,612

2. High Point (sanitation special route operator) — $26,003

3. Winston-Salem (sanitation equipment operator) — $25,393

Moving up:

• Winston-Salem still ranks last among the three cities of the Triad for starting pay among sanitation equipment operators — the folks who drive garbage trucks. But the Twin City has closed the gap, bringing salaries up from $22,563 last year.

Bus driver

1. High Point — $28,664

Crime scene

1. High Point (crime scene technician) — $33,184

2. Winston-Salem (crime scene technician) — $33,039

3. Greensboro (crime scene investigator) — $32,601

Moving up:

• Starting salaries for crime scene technicians have increased in all three cities.

Firefighter

1. Greensboro — $33,483

2.High Point — $33,184

3. Winston-Salem — $31,345

Moving up:

• Starting salaries for firefighters in all three cities have increased since last year, with Greensboro supplanting High Point as the city with the highest starting pay, although only by a smidge.

Police officer

1. Greensboro — $35,556

2. High Point — $34,844

3. Winston-Salem — $34,722

Moving up:

• While Winston-Salem still ranks last among the Triad’s three cities for starting pay for police officers, the Twin City has partially closed the gap by bringing the salary up from $32,580.

Rec center director/supervisor

1. Winston-Salem — $35,429

2. Greensboro — $34,883

3. High Point — $34,844

Code enforcement officer

1. High Point — $36,585

2. Greensboro — $34,883