Some of California's highest-paid state employees, including prison psychiatrists, top police officials, and investment managers, are earning millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded compensation, according to recent records. Stephen Gilmore, chief investment officer for the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), was the state's top earner last year, with total compensation reaching $2.36 million. This figure included a $720,608 salary, nearly $100,000 in benefits, and $1.5 million in "other pay," which can encompass performance-based bonuses.
Approximately 250 state workers earned more than $600,000 in total compensation. These high earners were primarily concentrated within two major pension systems: CalPERS and the Teachers’ Retirement System. Other departments with significant high earners included the California Highway Patrol and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Arnold Phillips, a managing investment director at CalPERS, earned $1.73 million, with $1 million of that amount categorized as "other pay." Daniel Bienvenue, deputy investment chief, and Marcie Frost, executive officer, each took home $1.6 million. CalPERS manages over $600 billion in assets, making it the largest public employee retirement system in the United States.
Within the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, staff psychiatrist Samita Gandhi was the department's highest-paid employee, earning $873,872 in total compensation. Chief psychiatrist Olivia Del Pilar and staff psychiatrist Damon Walcott also reported high earnings, with $841,878 and $822,971 respectively.
Tai Vong, who retired as chief of the California Highway Patrol a year ago, received $914,554 in his final year of service, including a $398,000 lump sum payment. His colleagues, chiefs James Mann and Donald Goodbrand, earned $838,272 and $824,122, respectively. Sergeant Leonard Tomboc also had total compensation of $812,678.
Vernon Steiner, head of the State Compensation Insurance Fund, reported earnings of $1.2 million last year, with a base salary of $702,791. Ian Choudri, who oversees California's High-Speed Rail project, earned $638,943 in compensation.
The analysis, compiled by the San Francisco Chronicle, also noted that departments such as Motor Vehicles and Veterans Affairs have median wages below $71,000, a significant disparity compared to the highest earners.