Charlotte's 5 highest-paid city employees in 2026
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Charlotte city manager Marcus Jones. Photo: Courtesy of the City of Charlotte
For a transparent look at how taxpayer dollars are spent, Axios keeps a list of the highest-paid government employees locally.
Why it matters: Local government must pay leaders enough to retain talent while still being responsible stewards of tax dollars.
We include only base salaries, not benefits or bonuses.
1. Marcus Jones, Charlotte city manager
Salary: $499,210.43
Job description: He's where the buck stops in City Hall, overseeing a $4.49 billion budget and all departments, from the airport to the public transit system to economic development.
- Charlotte has a "weak mayor" form of government, meaning the city manager runs the city like a CEO. The mayor and council members set policy, and the manager carries it out day to day.
- Jones sits on many boards, including Charlotte Center City Partners, Charlotte Sports Foundation and Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
- Jones left his position as city manager of Norfolk, Virginia, to come to Charlotte, a city roughly triple in size. He's been here 10 years now.
Fun fact: Jones' annual salary is more than the U.S. president's.
2. Andrea Leslie-Fite, city attorney
Salary: $350,699.72
Job description: Appointed in November 2025, Leslie-Fite leads a team of 52 staffers who provide policy and legal advice and litigation services to everyone within city hall, including Charlotte police and CATS.
- You'll hear her called upon often during city council meetings, especially when the body is discussing dicey topics, like whether the city has a say over Border Patrol's operations here or the legality of the city's data center moratorium.
3. Haley Gentry, aviation director
Salary: $342,122.33
Job description: Gentry is the head honcho at one of the world's busiest airports and one of the city's strongest economic engines.
- She'll stay busy this year as American Airlines negotiates a new lease at Charlotte Douglas International Airport by July.
- Plus, Gentry is balancing multiple construction projects at the city-owned airport, including concourse renovations and a fourth runway.
- The airport is also planning the Destination District, a mixed-use development next to the airport that will include new hotels, restaurants, a brewery and a medical office.
Fun fact: Gentry started her career at the airport as an intern in the '90s.
4. Brent Cagle, interim CATS CEO
Salary: $339,618.31
Job description: Cagle, a deputy city manager, took on the challenge of fixing the fractured transit system in late 2022. He still hasn't dropped the interim title, though the city hasn't started seeking a replacement.
- Upon taking the reins, Cagle said he'd discovered a "culture of silence" within CATS and delayed maintenance and inspections on the light rail. The turmoil continued. CATS has been dealing with safety concerns since the fatal August 2025 light rail stabbing.
- Cagle has stayed busy. He's guided CATS through its transition to a new governance body: The Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority was formed following the passage of the 1-cent sales tax for transportation projects, replacing the Metropolitan Transit Commission.
5. Shawn Heath, deputy city manager
Salary: $300,838.97
Job description: Heath is one of four deputy city managers under Jones. He leads aviation, communications, community relations, housing and neighborhood services and CATS.
- He's been with the city since 2020.