City Manager Tops Naples Payroll: Gary Young Earns $300K Annually

Top-Paid in Town

Naples City Manager Gary Young now leads the city’s payroll, commanding a base salary of $300,000 per year, along with housing and vehicle allowances and relocation support as he transitions into Collier County residence by Feb 1, 2026.

Context on Compensation

Young officially took over on February 1, 2025, receiving a contract approved by City Council, which ended the need for a lengthy national search. His predecessor, Jay Boodheshwar, earned $297,675 plus perks, including housing allowance, car, and city vehicle—so Young’s compensation package largely mirrors prior leadership.

According to available payroll data, Naples’ highest-paid employee in 2023 was the city manager at $297,675, while the average salary across all city roles was $73,953, with the top 10% earning between $113K and $298K.

What This Signals for Naples

• Leadership within peer range: Young’s $300K salary places him just above typical top-tier city administrators in similarly-sized Florida municipalities.

• Budget oversight: As manager, Young oversees a $209 million budget and 525 staff—his financial expertise as former CFO strengthens fiscal accountability.

• Transparency impact: Public salary disclosure sparks vital dialogue around compensation transparency, urban priorities, and resident return on investment.