Determining the right compensation for a board of supervisors can be tricky because several factors influence individual take-home salaries.
Often, the county board of supervisors determines the annual compensation for each member. However, the exact method for determining salaries varies among counties, with some requiring a ballot or referendum. For example, California subjects any increase in board salaries to a referendum.
The following three factors typically influence a board of supervisors’ compensation.
1. Experience
Similar to most boards, such as nonprofit boards and corporate boards, experienced members earn a higher total take-home compensation package compared to less-experienced members.
2. Education
Education affects the total compensation of virtually all public and private economic sectors in the U.S., with jobs requiring higher education levels and skills paying higher compensation. The county board of supervisors is no exception to this norm, as members with higher education levels receive a bigger salary.
3. Location
The cost of living is a major factor when determining take-home compensation packages. The cost of living is primarily dependent on location and the cost of housing. It’s one of the reasons why pay packages in large urban areas are usually higher than salaries for similar positions in rural locations.
However, the surge in remote work has seen many employers shift to role-based compensation as opposed to location-based. Despite this, many county supervisors live in the counties and communities they oversee, which means their location still largely influences their total compensation.