Tacoma’s new city manager will earn an annual salary of $358,363.20 per year.
The Tacoma City Council on March 31 approved Hyun Kim’s contract as Tacoma’s permanent city manager, the final step in a months-long search process to find a candidate for one of the highest-paid and most influential roles at the city. The pay rate reflects a roughly $50,000 raise compared to the $309,566 his predecessor Elizabeth Pauli earned, and the salary he earned as interim city manager.
It stops short of the maximum amount Kim could have earned, which according to the job posting for his role ranged from $309,566 to $376,500. Kim’s salary ranks similar to that of other local leaders like Tacoma Public Schools Superintendent Josh Garcia, who earned $403,217 in the 2024-2025 school year. In comparison, Gov. Bob Ferguson earns $218,744 with an approved raise to $234,275 in July, according to the Washington Citizens’ Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials…