El Dorado County Auditor-Controller Joe Harn has updated the list of the county’s highest compensated employees for the calendar year 2025. The list of the top 100 compensated employees based on the cost of total salaries and benefits is available at eldoradocounty.ca.gov/County-Government/County-Departments/Auditor-Controller/Payroll/Top-Paying-Positions. 

“Posting the list to the county’s website is part of the ongoing effort to increase transparency in our county government,” Harn said. “The best government transparency involves placing all financial information online in a readily understandable manner. Government transparency allows taxpayers to see how our county is spending tax money and gives El Dorado County residents the ability to hold us accountable. 

As always, the county’s mental health medical director was the county’s highest compensated employee with salaries and benefits totaling $513,889. A psychiatrist, the sheriff, undersheriff, district attorney and chief administrative officer are also in the top 10. 

“The cost of each employee’s CalPERS benefit is included on the list, but the reported retirement cost should be reviewed with some skepticism,” Harn shared. “CalPERS has intentionally understated the actual cost of its retirement programs statewide. Undoubtedly, higher costs for the county’s retirement program and retirees’ health stipend will need to be paid in the future.”