City pays many of its officials slightly more than average

When compared to similarly-sized cities in Missouri

A look at how Jefferson City officials are paid compared with several other Missouri cities shows many are paid above average.

The News Tribune compared salaries of 13 positions within Jefferson City municipal government to similar titles in University City, Cape Girardeau, Chesterfield, Joplin and Columbia, and found that, on average, Jefferson City paid slightly more than the other cities.

When averaging the salaries of each position in each comparably-sized city, excluding Columbia, only city clerk, city administrator and public works director in Jefferson City were paid less, on average, than their counterparts.

When Columbia salaries were included in the average, city counselor, associate city counselor and police chief were paid below the average salary.

Gail Strope, director of human resources, said any comparison to another city wouldn't be completely fair and accurate because of the difference in responsibilities and positions.

"You can't just pick five places and compare," Strope said. "Every organization is different."