City attorney, city manager making the big bucks

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — The salaries in Gallup aren’t unusually high, but there’s money to be made in government. City employees take home salaries comparable to those in the county. The highest paid city employee is City Attorney Dave Pederson, who still came under six figures at just under $91,000.

City Manager Gerald Herrera is the next highest with $85,010. Herrera is considered to have the top administrative spot in the city overseeing a multimillion dollar budget and some 450 employees. The county has around 500 employees, and they pay their manager over $93,000.

The next top administrative position is the executive director of public works, which pays $75,123. The director of Gallup Joint Utilities is next with $74,227.

In total, 32 positions in the city pay more than $50,000. Of these 15 are positions within the utility, parks, or infrastructure maintenance. Eight are positions within the police department, and one more in fire department.

Certified police made between $29,000 and $42,000. According to the data provided by the city, non-certified police made between $22,000 and $32,000. This is compared to a starting salary for a police officer second class in Albuquerque of $38,000. A police officer first class makes $39,500 in Albuquerque. While the cost of living is higher in Albuquerque, the significantly higher salaries have led to many recruiting problems for Gallup.

Oddities in the over $50,000 salary category include a municipal judge who makes $62,150. The personnel director makes just under $55,000, and the recreation director makes just under $56,000.