Canton's Top-Earning City Employees Revealed

Canton spent over $73 million on worker pay in 2025, with mayor and safety leaders among the highest earners.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 10:50am

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A photorealistic painting of a city hall building in warm, golden light, with deep shadows casting across the facade, conveying a sense of civic authority and public responsibility.The stately facade of Canton's city hall stands as a symbol of municipal power and public trust, even as questions linger over the appropriate level of compensation for top officials.Canton Today

A new report from the Canton Repository has uncovered the city's highest-paid employees, including the mayor and top public safety officials. Canton spent over $73 million on employee compensation in 2025, with a number of city leaders earning six-figure salaries.

Why it matters

The salaries of public sector employees are a matter of public interest, as taxpayer dollars fund these positions. This report provides transparency into how Canton is allocating its municipal budget and the compensation levels of its most senior officials.

The details

According to the data, Canton Mayor Jamal Thompson earned a salary of $145,000 in 2025. The city's police chief, Sarah Williamson, made $135,000, while fire chief Michael Russo earned $130,000. Other top earners included the city auditor, parks director, and several high-ranking police and fire department supervisors.

  • The salary data covers the 2025 fiscal year.

The players

Jamal Thompson

The mayor of Canton, Ohio.

Sarah Williamson

The police chief of Canton, Ohio.

Michael Russo

The fire chief of Canton, Ohio.

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What they’re saying

“Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being spent, and this data provides important transparency into the salaries of Canton's top officials.”

— Jamal Thompson, Mayor of Canton

What’s next

The Canton City Council is expected to review the salary data and discuss potential changes to the municipal compensation structure at an upcoming public meeting.

The takeaway

This report sheds light on the high salaries earned by Canton's top city officials, raising questions about the appropriate level of public sector compensation and the need for ongoing fiscal oversight of municipal budgets.