The 10 highest-paid employees of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) last year were police officers who collected more than $370,000 each, according to data posted today on SeeThroughNY, the Empire Center’s government transparency website.
The Port Authority’s 1,916 Police Department employees were paid an average of $172,151, with 86 of them collecting more than $300,000.
Police employees averaged $43,778 in overtime, which varied significantly based on rank. The Port Authority’s 16 Detective Sergeants averaged $118,990 each in overtime, followed by:
- Detective Lieutenants (average overtime: $85,019)
- Police Lieutenants ($70,025)
- Police Sergeants ($59,876)
- Detectives ($51,232)
- Rank-and-file Police Officers ($39,583).
Between 2017 and 2022, the Port Authority’s total payroll grew almost 27 percent, even as the number of employees was virtually unchanged.
More recently, between 2021 and 2022, total overtime surged 33 percent, from $130 million to $177 million. A total of 236 Port Authority employees last year collected more than $100,000 in overtime, including 177 Police Department employees.
The top overtime recipient was Detective Sergeant James Graf, whose $227,291 in overtime, along with payouts for waived time-off, brought his total pay to $509,801 and also made him the Port Authority’s highest-paid employee.
You may also like
New York’s Estimated Annual Electricity Bills Rise $275—Third-Largest Increase in U.S.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, ALBANY, N.Y. — New York households’ estimated annual electricity bills rose by $275, or 11 percent. This was the third-largest dollar increase among the 50 states, behind only Hawaii and New Ham Read More
Educator Pay 2026: North Country
Six school district educators in the North Country were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was Indian River CSD Superintendent Troy Decker, at $240,614. Read More
Educator Pay 2026: Southern Tier
A total of 21 school district educators in the Southern Tier were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was Ithaca City SD Superintendent Luvelle Brown, at $292,442. Read More
Educator Pay 2026: Finger Lakes
A total of 52 school district educators in the Finger Lakes region were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was John Abbott, deputy superintendent of East Irondequoit CSD, at $306,144. Read More
Educator Pay 2026: Mohawk Valley
A total of 17 school district educators in the Mohawk Valley were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was Utica City SD Superintendent Christopher Spence, at $281,875. Read More
Educator Pay 2026: Central New York
A total of 36 school district educators in Central New York were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was East Syracuse Minoa CSD Superintendent Donna Desiato, at $310,881. Read More
Educator Pay 2026: Capital Region
A total of 38 school district educators in the Capital Region were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was South Colonie CSD Superintendent David Perry, at $300,918. Read More
Educator Pay 2026: Western New York
A total of 45 school district educators in Western New York were paid more than $200,000 in fiscal year 2025-26, according to payroll data reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS). The highest paid was Sean Croft, former superintendent of Starpoint CSD, at $315,619. Read More