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iN NUMBERS: Comparing Kamloops, Okanagan bureaucrat salaries

Cost of living is often top-of-mind for most British Columbians, but it’s likely not so pressing if you’re a public sector executive in Kamloops or the Okanagan.

If they want the best candidates, governments and schools have to compete and the going rate isn’t cheap if you serve hundreds of thousands of taxpayers and and manage massive budgets.

Here’s how much your public sector managers and administrators made last year after salaries and benefits:

  • $362,138: Kelowna city manager Doug Gilchrist.
  • $302,398: Kamloops CAO Byron McCorkell.
  • $217,986: Kamloops CAO David Trawin, who was on medical leave for most of 2024.
  • $274,772: Penticton city manager Anthony Haddad.
  • $255,522: Vernon CAO Patti Bridal.
  • $241,568: Central Okanagan regional district CAO Sally Ginter.
  • $251,735: Okanagan-Similkameen regional district CAO Jim Zaffino.
  • $183,882: Okanagan-Similkameen regional district CAO William Newell, who officially left the job in 2023.
  • $264,800: Thompson-Nicola regional district CAO Scott Hildebrand.
  • $261,082: North Okanagan regional district CAO David Sewell
  • $486,332: Interior Health Authority president and CEO Susan Brown.
  • $367,926: Okanagan College president and CEO Natasha Fassina.
  • $340,685: UBC Okanagan vice-chancellor and principal Lesley Cormack.
  • $367,298: Thompson Rivers University president and vice-chancellor Brett Fairbairn.
  • $356,012: Central Okanagan school district superintendent Kevin Kaardal.
  • $308,606: Kamloops-Thompson school district superintendent Rhonda Nixon.
  • $292,808: Vernon school district superintendent Christine Perkins.
  • $289,971: Okanagan-Skaha school district superintendent Todd William Manuel.
  • 8: How many people on this list no longer work in these roles.
  • 2: Where Susan Brown’s income ranked among six BC health authority CEOs.
  • $43,912: How much the average municipal CAO makes over a regional district CAO.

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One response

  1. Avatar
    drb1971

    I find this crazy… they are clearly out of touch of inflation and the ones who are struggling with a 43000 yearly wage… that seems excessive to me… it’s ridiculous!

Levi Landry

Levi is a recent graduate of the Communications, Culture, & Journalism program at Okanagan College and is now based in Kamloops. After living in the BC for over four years, he finds the blue collar and neighbourly environment in the Thompson reminds him of home in Saskatchewan. Levi, who has previously been published in Kelowna’s Daily Courier, is passionate about stories focussed on both social issues and peoples’ experiences in their local community. If you have a story or tips to share, you can reach Levi at 250 819 3723 or email LLandry@infonews.ca.

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