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County administrator salary
Average county administrator salary
$89,338
Understanding County Administrator Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a county administrator is reported at $89,338 per year. Salaries can differ significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific county's budget.
Salary Variations by State
States like California and New York typically offer higher salaries, often exceeding the national average due to increased costs of living and demand for administrative skills. In contrast, rural areas may present lower salary ranges but often provide unique opportunities for career advancement.
Job Opportunities in County Administration
Positions in this field are available across various departments, including public health, law enforcement, and urban planning. As local governments continue to prioritize community development, the demand for skilled county administrators is expected to grow. Explore available roles and tailor your application to highlight relevant experience and expertise.
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Where can a County Administrator earn more?
County administrator salary estimates from across the web
Average county administrator salary by state
The average county administrator salary in Nevada, Maryland, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average county administrator salary states are Kentucky, South Dakota, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for county administrators
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $117,354 | $56.42 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $102,627 | $49.34 |
| 3 | Washington | $100,269 | $48.21 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $113,341 | $54.49 |
| 5 | Arizona | $90,201 | $43.37 |
| 6 | New York | $105,986 | $50.95 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $107,970 | $51.91 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $89,264 | $42.92 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $142,402 | $68.46 |
| 10 | Oregon | $89,661 | $43.11 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $93,130 | $44.77 |
| 12 | Ohio | $97,549 | $46.90 |
| 13 | Florida | $86,439 | $41.56 |
| 14 | Maryland | $114,746 | $55.17 |
| 15 | California | $96,230 | $46.26 |
| 16 | Delaware | $97,724 | $46.98 |
| 17 | Colorado | $82,543 | $39.68 |
| 18 | Virginia | $103,533 | $49.78 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $82,390 | $39.61 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $80,942 | $38.91 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $81,964 | $39.41 |
| 22 | Texas | $77,712 | $37.36 |
| 23 | Michigan | $81,243 | $39.06 |
| 24 | Vermont | $75,857 | $36.47 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $78,256 | $37.62 |
| 26 | Utah | $71,619 | $34.43 |
| 27 | North Carolina | $74,459 | $35.80 |
| 28 | Alaska | $72,049 | $34.64 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $80,887 | $38.89 |
| 30 | Missouri | $78,451 | $37.72 |
| 31 | Alabama | $70,764 | $34.02 |
| 32 | Louisiana | $78,510 | $37.75 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $70,269 | $33.78 |
| 34 | Illinois | $73,889 | $35.52 |
| 35 | North Dakota | $66,359 | $31.90 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $68,761 | $33.06 |
| 37 | Georgia | $70,364 | $33.83 |
| 38 | Idaho | $63,633 | $30.59 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $63,605 | $30.58 |
| 40 | Maine | $70,043 | $33.67 |
| 41 | Iowa | $69,743 | $33.53 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $65,441 | $31.46 |
| 43 | Montana | $62,427 | $30.01 |
| 44 | Indiana | $64,567 | $31.04 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $60,578 | $29.12 |
| 46 | Kansas | $53,747 | $25.84 |
| 47 | Oklahoma | $62,362 | $29.98 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $60,893 | $29.28 |
| 49 | Tennessee | $57,101 | $27.45 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $47,493 | $22.83 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $45,917 | $22.08 |
Highest paying cities for county administrators
The highest-paying cities for county administrators are Stockton, CA, Pensacola, FL, and Hillsboro, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $101,890 | $48.99 |
| 2 | Pensacola, FL | $91,147 | $43.82 |
| 3 | Hillsboro, OR | $88,201 | $42.40 |
| 4 | Colorado Springs, CO | $84,317 | $40.54 |
| 5 | Winona, MN | $83,313 | $40.05 |
| 6 | Horsham, PA | $82,902 | $39.86 |
| 7 | Wausau, WI | $79,529 | $38.24 |
| 8 | Waukegan, IL | $74,822 | $35.97 |
| 9 | Logan, UT | $67,954 | $32.67 |
County administrator salary details
A county administrator's salary ranges from $55,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $142,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a county administrator's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $142,000 | $11,833 | $68 |
| 75th Percentile | $114,000 | $9,500 | $55 |
| Average | $89,338 | $7,445 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
Highest paying county administrator jobs
The highest paying types of county administrators are president/chief executive officer, senior vice president, and president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vice President | $158,637 | $13,220 | $76.27 | 119,530 |
| President | $192,329 | $16,027 | $92.47 | 49,413 |
| Owner | $90,334 | $7,528 | $43.43 | 86,486 |
| Operations Vice President | $163,076 | $13,590 | $78.40 | 147,465 |
| Board Member | $70,751 | $5,896 | $34.01 | 7,581 |
| Chief Operating Officer | $136,604 | $11,384 | $65.67 | 128,993 |
Top companies hiring county administrators now:
Which companies pay county administrators the most?
County administrator salaries at Icma-rc and Tarrant County are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average county administrator salary at companies like Minnesota Limited and Orora are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Icma-rc | $109,287 | $52.54 |
| 2 | Tarrant County | $92,116 | $44.29 |
| 3 | Minnesota Limited | $82,929 | $39.87 |
| 4 | Orora | $80,108 | $38.51 |
| 5 | El Paso County | $77,489 | $37.25 |
| 6 | Gwinnett County | $74,989 | $36.05 |
| 7 | UnitedHealth Group | $73,379 | $35.28 |
| 8 | San Bernardino County | $72,545 | $34.88 |
| 9 | Lehigh Hanson | $69,430 | $33.38 |
| 10 | RHA Health Services | $62,472 | $30.03 |
| 11 | Rings Levin A Atty | $57,503 | $27.65 |
| 12 | Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania | $55,138 | $26.51 |
| 13 | Chrysalis | $49,743 | $23.91 |
| 14 | County of San Joaquin, CA | $32,315 | $15.54 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
County Administrator salary by industry
The average county administrator salary varies across industries:
- The average county administrator salary in the finance industry is $98,755, the highest of any industry.
- The average county administrator salary in the finance industry is $94,902.
- County administrators in the government industry earn an average salary of $63,927, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for county administrators
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $98,755 | $47.48 |
| 2 | Health Care | $94,902 | $45.63 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $91,420 | $43.95 |
| 4 | Technology | $87,754 | $42.19 |
| 5 | Professional | $82,245 | $39.54 |
| 6 | Government | $63,927 | $30.73 |
High paying county administrator jobs
County administrator salary trends
The average county administrator salary has risen by $9,148 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average county administrator earned $80,190 annually, but today, they earn $89,338 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for county administrators over the last decade.
Compare county administrator salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average county administrator salary over time
Compare county administrator salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
County administrator salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $89,300 | $42.95 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $88,600 | $42.61 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | $91,100 | $43.79 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $88,100 | $42.33 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $87,100 | $41.86 | +3.4% |
Recently added county administrator salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Ohio | Transportation Administrator, Wood County, PN 20051556 | Bowling Green, OH | 06/29/2025 | $78,325 |
| Laurens County Government | County Administrator | Laurens, SC | 06/27/2025 | $130,000 |
| International City Management | County Administrator | Eau Claire, WI | 05/28/2025 | $152,692 |
| Claire's | West County Icing | Des Peres, MO | 05/25/2025 | $31,827 |
| International City Management | County Administrator | Scottsville, VA | 05/18/2025 | $160,000 |
| Manatee County Government | Deputy County Administrator | Bradenton, FL | 05/12/2025 | $155,259 |
| Manatee County (Fl | Deputy County Administrator | Bradenton, FL | 05/07/2025 | $155,259 |
| Pacourts | Deputy Administrator, Trial Court-Delaware County | Media, PA | 04/28/2025 | $63,325 |
| International City Management | County Administrator | Cook, MN | 04/09/2025 | $127,004 |
| Pennsylvania Courts | Deputy Administrator, Trial Court-Delaware County | Media, PA | 04/09/2025 | $63,325 |
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