Harris County salaries: FY2026 vs FY2027 (prepared 2026-09-21)¶
Where the numbers come from (all saved under sources/official):
- FY27 Proposed Budget Vol. I v3 (9/17/2026), PDF pages 454-531: FY26 Harris County Salary Plan (783 classification titles with hourly min/max), FY26 Management, Judicial and Appointed plans, "Elected Officials Salary Data" (FY27 actual salary and allowances per pay period), FY26 Law Enforcement Certified Peace Officers Step Plan, FY26 Law Enforcement Step Plan (civilian), Allowances and Incentives, NEW Harris County Salary Plan (1,355 titles, the pay-equity structure in effect from Feb. 2026 and used for FY27) and NEW Law Enforcement Step Plan (civilian LE, 9 steps). Appendix D (p. 124) lists elected-official raises.
- FY26 Adopted Budget Vol. I, Appendix D (p. 116): FY26 elected-official base salaries.
- FY27 Vol. II v2: per-department "Change Table" lines (year-2 parity, pay-equity increases, group health, appointed-official parity, constable pay increase) and Labor/Non-Labor budgets by department.
- Commissioners Court agenda item 25-4911 (8/7/2025): district judges' county supplement $18,013 -> $25,000 effective 9/1/2025.
- News for context: Texas Scorecard 5/29/2025 (top FY24-25 salaries), Forward Times 10/22/2025, Houston Chronicle via Yahoo 10/20/2025, ABC13/Yahoo 2026 ($411K county administrator).
Parsed tables: data/elected_officials_salaries_fy26_fy27.csv, data/salary_plan_fy26.csv, data/salary_plan_new_fy27.csv, data/salary_plan_fy26_vs_new_matched_titles.csv, data/new_salary_plan_grades_fy27.csv, data/le_step_plan_fy26.csv, data/le_step_plan_new_fy27.csv, data/appointed_department_head_parity_fy27.csv, data/vol2_labor_nonlabor_by_department.csv.
1. Elected officials (base salary; allowances shown separately)¶
| Office | FY26 | FY27 | Change | FY27 allowances/incentives 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 the raise | $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) | same tiers | $198,994 / $216,507 / $244,483 | none FY26->FY27 (9.2% COLA Aug. 2024; state benchmark raised 9/1/2025) | $2-$39 |
| Probate judges (5) | same tiers | $200,013 / $217,506 | none | $5-$14 |
| District judges (county supplement to state pay) | $18,013 (to 8/31/2025) | $25,000 | +$6,987 each, ~$489K/yr for 70 judges, effective 9/1/2025 | - |
| Courts of Appeals justices (county supplement, 18) | - | $12,501 | - | - |
| Constable history: ~$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. | ||||
| Cost of the Aug. 6, 2026 raises: base salary +$786,188/yr for the 12 officials who accepted (8 x $45,000 + 2 x $87,515 + 2 x $125,579); benefits add roughly 23% plus the $25,342 health contribution. Vol. II budgets the constable raise at $55,616 per precinct (salary plus benefits). The county says these are absorbed within existing office budgets. |
2. The new pay structure (all non-step civilian jobs)¶
The pay-equity study consolidated 4,600+ titles into 758 standardized classifications and 20 grades; it took effect in the first full pay period of February 2026 (FY26) and is the structure the FY27 budget is built on. Employees below the new minimum were raised to the minimum; employees at or above it got no increase from the study. Pay floor stays at $20.00/hr ($41,600). | Grade | Hourly | Annual (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/$42.46-$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 (County Administrator) | (The FY26 plan had 102 distinct ranges across its four plans; the book's own count of grades before the study was 127.)
Examples of range changes, FY26 plan -> new plan (hourly)¶
| Title | FY26 min-max | New min-max | Minimum 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% (range lowered) |
| 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% (max lowered) |
| Animal Control Officer I | $20.00-$26.74 | $20.00-$28.00 | 0% |
| 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% (range lowered) |
| Assistant Medical Examiner | $123.21-$188.51 | $117.74-$176.60 | -4.4% |
| Across the 203 FY26 titles that carry the identical name in the new plan, the minimum rose for 147, fell for 44 and was unchanged for 12 (median +12.2%; maximum median +10.2%). Most FY26 titles (580 of 783) were renamed or consolidated, so title-level comparison is only partial. A lowered range does not cut an incumbent's pay; it narrows future hiring and progression. |
3. Law enforcement¶
Sworn (certified peace officers), FY26 step plan (the parity-year-1 rates; FY27 year-2 rates are not printed in the budget book): | Rank | Steps | Hourly | Annual (2,080 h) | |---|---|---|---| | Deputy | 9 (0-11 months to 17+ years) | $37.72 -> $54.02 | $78,458 -> $112,362 | | Detective / Accident Investigator / Crime Scene Investigator | 5 | $44.06 -> $55.08 | $91,645 -> $114,566 | | Sergeant | 5 | $55.12 -> $61.45 | $114,650 -> $127,816 | | Lieutenant | 4 | $62.16 -> $68.10 | $129,293 -> $141,648 | | Captain | 4 | $71.20 -> $79.44 | $148,096 -> $165,235 | Before parity (FY25) a deputy started near $57,000; the FY26 plan started deputies at $78,458 (HPD first-year base $75,000; $81,600 with differentials). FY27 adds "Year 2 - Law Enforcement Pay Parity Plan" money in every LE 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 (total $44.6M; plus $3.4M in the Toll Road fund) and separate "Year 2 supervisors pay increase" lines ($1.0M total). Relative to FY26 sworn labor that is roughly a 5-8% step-up, consistent with HPD's 8% July 2026 raise, but the county has not published the FY27 step table.
Civilian law-enforcement step plan, FY26 -> NEW: | Job | FY26 (steps) | NEW (steps) | |---|---|---| | Detention Officer | 6 steps, $23.59-$30.45 | DO I steps 1-3 $24.00-$27.46; DO II steps 7-9 $32.31-$34.75 (9-step ladder) | | Cadet | 6 steps, $22.59-$29.15 | Cadet I $24.00-$27.46; Cadet II $32.31-$34.75 | | Communications Officer | (not in FY26 plan) | I: $24.00-$27.46; II: $32.31-$34.75; III (radio) $34.88-$37.50 | | Clerk | 7 steps, $20.46-$28.87 | Administrative Clerk 9 steps $20.00-$28.00 | | Case Manager I | 3 steps, $27.32-$29.12 | 9 steps $28.16-$39.28 | | Administrative Assistant I | 4 steps, $26.06-$28.87 | Admin. Assistant II 9 steps $22.44-$31.32 | Also new in FY27: an $18.5M "LE Rollover Fund" (H.B. 192) carrying unspent FY26 Sheriff/constable money outside the General Fund.
4. Appointed executives and department heads¶
New-plan ranges (annual): County Administrator $344,053-$516,069 (actual $411,000, set Feb. 2026); County Engineer, Toll Road Executive Director, Interim Chief Medical Examiner $307,195-$460,782; Executive Directors of OMB, Public Health, Flood Control, Universal Services, the Chief People Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner $274,269-$411,424; Fire Marshal, County Auditor, County Purchasing Agent, Chief Public Defender, Managed Assigned Counsel, Housing & Community Development, Chiefs of Staff for precincts and Engineering $218,650-$328,349; Executive Directors of Veterans, Juvenile Probation, Resources for Children & Adults, Children's Assessment Center, Library, Pretrial, Domestic Relations, Economic Equity $195,229-$292,822. FY26 appointed plan for comparison: County Engineer $365,581-$548,371; Executive Director VK $428,917-$643,386; Executive Director V $329,389-$503,942; Fire Marshal II $216,091-$324,147; Chief Public Defender/County Auditor/Purchasing Agent $169,894-$259,958. The new plan lowers the top of the executive scale while raising several mid-level executive ranges. Reported actual pay (FY2024-25, Texas Scorecard 5/29/2025): Chief Medical Examiner Luis Sanchez $536,141; Toll Road ED Roberto Trevino $485,014; County Engineer K. Saifur Rahman $479,835; Public Health interim director Leah Barton $456,976; Universal Services director Sindhu Menon $456,976; Flood Control director Christina Petersen $434,138; interim County Administrator Jesse Dickerman $411,965; Budget Director Daniel Ramos $411,278; Deputy Chief ME Pramod Gumpeni $402,251; Precinct 1 chief of staff Brandon Dudley $405,000 (Forward Times 10/2025). FY27 "Appointed Officials Salary Parity" (Sept. 8, 2026 amendment, $318,676 total budgeted incl. benefits): Chief People Officer $55,077; Veterans Services ED $60,016; Resources for Children & Adults ED $60,016; Children's Assessment Center ED $60,016; Managed Assigned Counsel ED $59,401; Juvenile Probation ED $24,150.
5. Benefits per employee (all employees)¶
County health contribution per employee $20,228 (FY26) -> $25,342 (FY27), +25%, with no change to employee premiums or deductibles; retirement contribution rate 15.1% -> 14.50% budgeted (TCDRS required 14.32%); Social Security 5.98%, Medicare 1.40%, workers' comp 1.01%, unemployment 0.10%: variable-rate benefits 22.99% of pay plus $25,342 health. Allowances range from $13.85 bilingual pay to a "Retention Incentive" of up to $1,665 per pay period ($43,290/yr) and "Salary Adjustment Grant" up to $814.92 per pay period.
6. Labor budgets by department (General Fund, Vol. II)¶
Labor budgets (salaries + benefits) excluding Toll Road and Flood Control: FY25 actual $1,756.0M -> FY26 adopted $1,981.0M -> FY27 $2,209.6M (+$228.6M, +11.5%). Largest FY27 increases: Sheriff patrol +$42.3M (+13.8%), Sheriff detention +$28.9M (+10.3%), Constable Pct 4 +$27.8M (+35.5%), Constable Pct 1 +$14.6M (+26.9%), Constable Pct 5 +$13.9M (+24.8%), District Attorney +$13.9M (+10.3%), District Clerk +$12.8M (+28.9%), Public Health +$9.9M (+19.5%), Constable Pct 3 +$8.4M (+33.5%), Tax Assessor-Collector +$7.0M (+16.2%). Constable labor jumps include the $26.2M of contract-patrol subsidy moved from General Administration into the constable budgets, so the underlying pay growth is smaller than the raw percentages. Pay-equity increases budgeted inside departments for FY27 ($55.6M all funds): Sheriff detention $18.5M, District Clerk $17.1M, District Attorney $10.4M, Tax Assessor-Collector $8.8M, Sheriff patrol $7.7M, Resources for Children & Adults $5.6M, Juvenile Probation $4.6M, Public Health $4.1M, County Clerk $3.8M; another $21.4M is held centrally in General Administration "pending pay equity finalization" and a $30.0M "Compensation Study Increases" line sits in the same department.
7. What is not disclosed¶
- No FY27 step table for sworn deputies, sergeants, lieutenants or captains; the FY26 table is the latest printed.
- No per-position salary list for the 20,000+ employees (the Chronicle's salary database is behind a paywall; OpenPayrolls/OpenGovPay block automated access). The Vol. II position tables give counts by title, not pay, and carry the disclaimer that they "should not be used to determine available and budgeted positions".
- No published statement of the average or total raise produced by the February 2026 pay-equity implementation; the county's FAQ says only that employees below the new minimum were raised to it.