6A. Salary detail: FY26 vs FY27¶
The adoption-day budget book reprints, at PDF pages 454-531, the county's FY26 salary plans (783 classification titles with hourly ranges, plus management, judicial and appointed plans and the law-enforcement step plans), the "Elected Officials Salary Data" table (FY27 salary and allowances for every elected position), and the NEW salary plan and NEW law-enforcement step plan produced by the pay-equity study (1,355 titles). Together with Appendix D of the FY26 and FY27 books and the Volume II change tables, they allow a position-level comparison. Parsed tables are in the data/ folder; the narrative version is notes/salary_comparison_2026_vs_2027.md.
Elected officials.¶
| Office | FY26 base | FY27 base | Change | FY27 allowances per pay period (26/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Judge (Hidalgo) | $208,416 | $208,416 | none | $13.85 |
| Commissioners, Pct 1-4 | $199,347 | $199,347 | none | $18.46 / $267.70 / $263.08 / $4.62 |
| Sheriff (Gonzalez) | $330,012 | $330,000 | none | $549.24 (= $14,280/yr) |
| Constables, 8 precincts | $260,000 | $305,000 | +$45,000 (+17.3%) | $316-$616 (= $8,220-$16,020/yr) |
| District Attorney | $217,485 | $305,000 | +$87,515 (+40.2%) | - |
| County Attorney | $217,485 | $305,000 | +$87,515 (+40.2%) | $253.85 |
| District Clerk | $179,421 | $305,000 | +$125,579 (+70.0%) | $112.45 |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | $179,421 | $305,000 | +$125,579 (+70.0%) | $253.85 |
| County Clerk | $179,421 | $179,421 | declined (LGC 152.052) | $43.85 |
| County Treasurer | $139,547 | $139,547 | $40K raise denied 9/8/2026 | $290.77 |
| Justices of the Peace (16) | $189,010 | $189,010 | none | $0-$69 |
| County Courts at Law judges (county-paid, by tenure) | same tiers | $198,994 / $216,507 / $244,483 | none FY26 to FY27 (9.2% COLA Aug. 2024) | $2-$39 |
| Probate judges (5) | same tiers | $200,013 / $217,506 | none | $5-$14 |
| District judges: county supplement to state salary | $18,013 (to 8/31/2025) | $25,000 | +$6,987 each; ~$489K/yr for 70 judges (SB 293) | - |
| Courts of Appeals justices (18): county supplement | - | $12,501 | - | - |
Table 7. Sources: FY26 Vol. I Appendix D (p. 116); FY27 Vol. I v3 "Elected Officials Salary Data" (PDF pp. 474-477) and Appendix D (p. 124); Commissioners Court item 25-4911 (8/7/2025). Constables: ~$133,000 FY24, $178,509 FY25, $260,000 FY26, $305,000 FY27 (+129% in three years). The Judge and commissioners were paid $190,860 / $182,560 in 2023; the current figures were already in effect in October 2025. Base salary for the 12 officials who accepted the Aug. 6, 2026 raise rises $786,188 a year before benefits (0.24% of the $326M departmental increase: a governance question more than a budget driver); Vol. II budgets the constable raise at $55,616 per precinct including benefits.
The new pay structure (civilian, non-step jobs). The pay-equity study collapsed 4,600+ titles into 758 classifications on 20 grades, effective the first full pay period of February 2026 (FY26); FY27 is the first full year. Employees below their new minimum were raised to it; employees at or above it received nothing from the study, and no pay cuts are described. The floor stays at $20.00/hour ($41,600). Of the 203 FY26 titles that keep the identical name, the minimum rose for 147, fell for 44 and was unchanged for 12 (median +12.2%); 580 titles were renamed or merged, so title-level comparison is partial.
| Grade | Hourly min-max | Annual min-max (2,080 h) | Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $20.00-$28.00 | $41,600-$58,240 | 45 |
| 2 | $22.44-$31.32 | $46,675-$65,146 | 78 |
| 3 | $25.14-$35.08 | $52,291-$72,966 | 121 |
| 4 | $28.16-$39.28 | $58,573-$81,702 | 120 |
| 5 | $31.54-$44.00 | $65,603-$91,520 | 131 |
| 6 | $33.84-$50.76 | $70,387-$105,581 | 144 |
| 7 | $37.90-$56.86 | $78,832-$118,269 | 145 |
| 8 | $42.26-$63.68 | $87,901-$132,454 | 120 |
| 9 | $47.55-$71.33 | $98,904-$148,366 | 99 |
| 10 | $53.26-$79.88 | $110,781-$166,150 | 89 |
| 11 | $59.65-$89.47 | $124,072-$186,098 | 48 |
| 12 | $66.81-$100.21 | $138,965-$208,437 | 51 |
| 13 | $74.82-$112.24 | $155,626-$233,459 | 66 |
| 14 | $83.80-$125.70 | $174,304-$261,456 | 31 |
| 15 | $93.86-$140.78 | $195,229-$292,822 | 30 |
| 16 | $105.12-$157.86 | $218,650-$328,349 | 22 |
| 17 | $117.74-$176.60 | $244,899-$367,328 | 3 |
| 18 | $131.86-$197.80 | $274,269-$411,424 | 7 |
| 19 | $147.69-$221.53 | $307,195-$460,782 | 3 |
| 20 | $165.41-$248.11 | $344,053-$516,069 | 1 |
| Title | FY26 range (hourly) | New range (hourly) | Min. change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant I | $20.00-$25.77 | $20.00-$28.00 | 0% |
| Administrative Assistant IV | $22.77-$34.08 | $28.16-$39.28 | +23.7% |
| Accountant I | $23.88-$39.73 | $31.54-$44.00 | +32.1% |
| Accountant IV | $53.05-$81.03 | $42.46-$63.68 | -20.0% |
| Case Manager I | $20.83-$31.11 | $28.16-$39.28 | +35.2% |
| Paralegal I | $23.68-$30.91 | $31.54-$44.00 | +33.2% |
| Court Coordinator I | $23.68-$30.91 | $31.54-$44.00 | +33.2% |
| Court Reporter | $38.22-$62.22 | $42.26-$63.68 | +10.6% |
| Architect I | $23.88-$39.73 | $33.84-$50.76 | +41.7% |
| Adjuster I | $24.42-$43.95 | $28.16-$39.28 | +15.3% |
| Fire Marshal (appointed) | $58.66-$89.74 | $105.12-$157.86 | +79.2% |
| County Engineer (appointed) | $175.76-$263.64 | $147.69-$221.53 | -16.0% |
| Assistant Medical Examiner | $123.21-$188.51 | $117.74-$176.60 | -4.4% |
Table 8 (left). The 20-grade structure, from the NEW Harris County Salary Plan (FY27 Vol. I v3, PDF pp. 490-522; grade 8 is printed with both $42.26 and $42.46 minimums). Table 9 (right). Examples of range changes for titles that exist in both plans (FY26 plan pp. 454-473). A lowered range does not reduce an incumbent's pay; it changes future hiring and progression.
Law enforcement. The FY26 certified-peace-officer step plan (the parity year-one rates) starts a deputy at $37.72/hour ($78,458) and tops out at $54.02 ($112,362) after 17 years; detectives $44.06-$55.08 ($91,645-$114,566); sergeants $55.12-$61.45 ($114,650-$127,816); lieutenants $62.16-$68.10 ($129,293-$141,648); captains $71.20-$79.44 ($148,096-$165,235). Before parity a deputy started near $57,000. The FY27 sworn step table is not printed anywhere in the budget. Instead, FY27 carries "Year 2 - Law Enforcement Pay Parity Plan" lines in each department: Sheriff patrol $15.88M, Sheriff detention $5.47M, Constable Pct 4 $6.02M, Pct 5 $3.82M, Pct 1 $3.56M, Pct 3 $1.71M, Pct 7 $0.96M, Pct 2 $0.90M, Pct 6 $0.84M, Pct 8 $0.63M, DA investigators $2.34M, Fire Marshal $2.14M, County Attorney $0.29M ($44.6M; plus $3.4M in the Toll Road fund), and "Year 2 supervisors" lines totaling $1.0M. Against FY26 sworn labor that is on the order of a 5-8% step-up, consistent with HPD's 8% July 2026 raise. Civilian LE jobs moved from the FY26 step plan to a new nine-step ladder: detention officers from six steps at $23.59-$30.45 to Detention Officer I ($24.00-$27.46, steps 1-3) and II ($32.31-$34.75, steps 7-9); cadets likewise; clerks from $20.46-$28.87 to $20.00-$28.00 over nine steps; Case Manager I from three steps at $27.32-$29.12 to nine at $28.16-$39.28.
Appointed executives. New-plan ranges: County Administrator $344,053-$516,069 (actual $411,000, set Feb. 2026); County Engineer, Toll Road Executive Director and Interim Chief Medical Examiner $307,195-$460,782; the executive directors of OMB, Public Health, Flood Control and Universal Services, the Chief People Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner $274,269-$411,424; the Fire Marshal, County Auditor, Purchasing Agent, Chief Public Defender, Managed Assigned Counsel and Housing directors and the precinct and Engineering chiefs of staff $218,650-$328,349; the Veterans, Juvenile Probation, Children's Assessment Center, Resources for Children & Adults, Library, Pretrial, Domestic Relations and Economic Equity directors $195,229-$292,822. The FY26 appointed plan ran higher at the top (County Engineer $365,581-$548,371; Executive Director VK $428,917-$643,386) and lower in the middle (Fire Marshal $122,013-$186,659; Chief Public Defender, County Auditor, Purchasing Agent $169,894-$259,958). Reported FY2024-25 pay (Texas Scorecard, 5/29/2025): Chief Medical Examiner $536,141; Toll Road director $485,014; County Engineer $479,835; Public Health interim director and Universal Services director $456,976 each; Flood Control director $434,138; interim County Administrator $411,965; Budget Director $411,278; Deputy Chief Medical Examiner $402,251; a Precinct 1 chief of staff $405,000 (Forward Times, 10/2025). The Sept. 8, 2026 "appointed officials salary parity" amendment adds $318,676 (with benefits) for six department heads: Chief People Officer $55,077; Veterans Services, Resources for Children & Adults and Children's Assessment Center directors $60,016 each; Managed Assigned Counsel director $59,401; Juvenile Probation director $24,150.
Benefits per employee. The county's health contribution rises from $20,228 to $25,342 per employee (+25%) with no change to premiums or deductibles; the retirement contribution falls from 15.1% to 14.50% budgeted (TCDRS required rate 14.32%); with Social Security, Medicare, workers' compensation and unemployment, variable-rate benefits are 22.99% of pay. The allowance schedule runs from $13.85 per pay period (bilingual pay) to a "Retention Incentive" of up to $1,665 per pay period ($43,290 a year) and a "Salary Adjustment Grant" of up to $814.92 per pay period.
| Department (General Fund labor = salaries + benefits) | FY25 actual | FY26 adopted | FY27 adopted | Change | % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheriff - Patrol & Administration | $244.1M | $306.8M | $349.1M | +42.3M | +13.8% |
| Sheriff - Detention | $266.4M | $282.0M | $310.9M | +28.9M | +10.3% |
| Constable, Precinct 4 | $73.1M | $78.3M | $106.1M | +27.8M | +35.5% |
| Constable, Precinct 1 | $52.3M | $54.3M | $68.9M | +14.6M | +26.9% |
| Constable, Precinct 5 | $50.9M | $56.0M | $69.9M | +13.9M | +24.8% |
| District Attorney | $121.2M | $134.1M | $148.0M | +13.9M | +10.3% |
| District Clerk | $42.4M | $44.2M | $57.0M | +12.8M | +28.9% |
| Public Health Services | $40.7M | $50.6M | $60.5M | +9.9M | +19.5% |
| Constable, Precinct 3 | $24.2M | $25.0M | $33.3M | +8.4M | +33.5% |
| Tax Assessor-Collector | $37.3M | $43.1M | $50.1M | +7.0M | +16.2% |
| Juvenile Probation | $82.2M | $84.9M | $90.6M | +5.7M | +6.7% |
| Pretrial Services | $21.7M | $22.8M | $28.0M | +5.2M | +22.6% |
| District Courts | $32.2M | $31.0M | $35.4M | +4.4M | +14.2% |
| Constable, Precinct 2 | $12.5M | $13.8M | $18.1M | +4.3M | +31.3% |
| All General Fund departments (72) | $1,756.0M | $1,981.0M | $2,209.6M | +228.6M | +11.5% |
Table 10. Source: FY27 Vol. II v2 "Department Fund Overview" labor lines (data/vol2_labor_nonlabor_by_department.csv). Constable labor jumps include $26.2M of county-funded contract-patrol money moved from General Administration into the constable budgets in FY27. Pay-equity increases distributed to department lines total $60.8M (Sheriff Detention $9.3M, District Clerk $9.2M, District Attorney $5.5M, Tax Assessor-Collector $4.4M, Sheriff Patrol & Administration $3.8M); General Administration removes the same $60.8M from its FY26 pool, keeps a $21.4M balance and adds a $30.0M "Compensation Study Increases" line, so the net new pay-equity money in FY27 is $30.0M.
Overtime and extra pay. Deputies, detention officers and other non-exempt staff earn overtime at time-and-a-half over 40 hours a week with supervisory approval (Sheriff's Office Policy 217); ranks of lieutenant and above are exempt, and the elected Sheriff and constables are salaried with no overtime. Comp time is capped at 240 hours and cashed out above that (Policy 218; ACFR Note 1). General Fund overtime spending was $51.1M in FY25 against a $68.5M budget, $40.4M of it in the Sheriff's Office ($56.6M in FY24), and $33.5M through nine months of FY26 ($24.4M Sheriff) against $69.2M budgeted; the county funded 150 detention officers and 25 deputies in March 2025 (about $13.7M a year) to replace posts "currently being staffed through mandatory overtime." Ten sheriff's employees earned $1.2M of overtime among them in 2025. Overtime is now paid on a base raised about 36% by pay parity, and the DA's office budgeted $602K more FY27 overtime for that reason. Deputies may also work off-duty "extra jobs" paid by private employers (up to 88 hours of combined work in seven days, Policy 244), and 1,344 deputies work contract patrol for HOAs and districts at county pay with the county covering $90.8M of the cost in FY27. Separately, on Aug. 6, 2026 the Court approved one-time payments of $45,000 to each of the eight constables and $48,390 to the Fire Marshal ($408,390), under an agreement that guarantees salaries of at least $305,000 through 2030 and bars salary grievances or suits until 2030, citing H.B. 4205's peace-officer pay-parity requirement; it was negotiated in executive session and does not appear in Appendix D.
Not disclosed. No FY27 step table for sworn ranks; no per-employee salary list (the Volume II position tables give counts, not pay, and carry a "do not use" disclaimer); no statement of the total or average raise produced by the February 2026 pay-equity implementation; no overtime figures by department other than the Sheriff's Office.