Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was the second highest-paid mayor in California in 2016, while Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia ranked fourth, according to government salary data released by the state Controller’s Office Tuesday.

According to the survey, Garcetti was paid $246,303 and received more than $11,000 in health and retirement benefits. Garcia earned $143,419, with around $40,000 in benefits. The state’s top-paid mayor was Ed Lee of San Francisco at $297,387.

The Controller’s Office data encompasses 686,418 positions that generated a total of more than $44 billion in wages in 2016, in 53 counties and 470 cities that submitted their salary information.

The average compensation for municipal employees in California in 2016 was $65,125 in wages, with an additional $19,258 worth of retirement and health benefits.

The cities with the highest average pay were Vernon, in Los Angeles County, $108,673; Cathedral City, in Riverside County, $102,802; and Hayward, in Alameda County, $101,668.

Among county governments, the average employee pay statewide was $64,779, with $25,180 in benefits. Santa Clara County paid the most in average wages, at $85,650, and San Diego County ranked 20th, at $56,293.

–City News Service

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