Town Hall Rich List shows the top earners at Newcastle City Council in 2023/24

The latest figures from the TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List have revealed the top earners in local authorities across the UK for 2023/24.

In Newcastle, 14 senior workers received salaries of more than £100,000.

Alongside pension contributions and expenses, the total amount that the group of top earners received throughout 2023/24 was £1,923,029.

According to the report, Pam Smith, the chief executive of Newcastle City Council, was the highest earner at the council last year, receiving a total of £200,487 - with the full amount being her salary.

The next highest earners were joint between the director of adult social care and integrated services, and the director of place, with the pair receiving a salary of £143,910, plus pension contributions of £25,328, meaning a total of £169,238.

A full breakdown of the report in Newcastle is as follows:

• Chief executive: Salary of £200,487 - totalling £200,487.
• Director of adult social care and integrated services: Salary of £143,910, pension contribution of £25,328 - totalling £169,238.
• Director of place: Salary of £143,910, pension contribution of £25,328 - totalling £169,238.
• Director of children, education and skills: Salary of £143,910, pension contribution of £23,981 - totalling £167,891.
• Director of operations and reg. services: Salary of £143,910, pension contribution of £23,722 - totalling £167,682.
• Undisclosed position: Salary of £137,500 - totalling £137,500.
• Director of workforce and inclusion: Salary of £110,645, expenses of £7,519, and pension contribution of £18,384 - totalling £136,548.
• Assistant chief executive: £112,098, pension contribution of £19,729 - totalling £131,827.
• Chief finance officer: £110,645, pension contribution of £19,473 - totalling £130,118.
• Undisclosed position: Salary of £102,500 - totalling £102,500.
• Undisclosed position: Salary of £102,500 - totalling £102,500.
• Undisclosed position: Salary of £102,500 - totalling £102,500.
• Undisclosed position: Salary of £102,500 - totalling £102,500.
• Undisclosed position: Salary of £102,500 - totalling £102,500.

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Nationally, the 2025 Town Hall Rich List has found that a record 3,906 officials received more than £100,000, with 1,092 of them receiving over £150,000 - another record.

John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “It’s a record breaking year in many respects for taxpayers as the country hurtles towards a record tax burden, all while the public sector continues to feather its nest.

“As our latest town hall rich list demonstrates, the number of council staff with six-figure remuneration packages has surged at the same time that services are being slashed and council tax is being hiked above inflation.

“Local residents can look up their own authority in our list and judge the quality of services and their council tax bill against the pay packets of their council bosses.”

You can view the full data by visiting: https://www.taxpayersalliance.com/town_hall_rich_list_2025.

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