Eight employees of the city of Boston earned more than half a million dollars in 2024. According to the city's payroll database, the top earner received almost $150,000 more than the top earner in the previous year.
The second-highest earner on the city's payroll was Paul Sordillo, a member of the Facilities Management Department, who earned $567,427.49 last year. The Boston Herald reported that Sordillo was a longtime custodian for Boston Public Schools who retired in 2024. The $413,783.39 he received on top of his regular salary and overtime represents unused vacation days accrued over decades of work for Boston Public Schools.
According to a MassLive report, most of the highest earners in 2024 were members of the Boston Police and Fire Departments. Many of these individuals earned tens of thousands or more in detail and overtime pay.
Police Lt. Stanley Demesmin, the highest earner for the city last year, received $223,773.79 in addition to his regular salary of $161,306.48. Police Commissioner Michael Cox earned $311,765.29, and Fire Commissioner Paul Burke was No. 200 on the list with $311,080.88.
Other than Sordillo, another top earner who wasn't a member of the city's fire or police departments was Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, who earned $349,189.75 in 2024.
Compared to fire and police officials, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu received $207,000.04 in 2024.
Below are the top 10 highest-paid officials out of 25,530 city employees: