By Robert Haugh

Santa Clara City Manager Jovan Grogan is now the third-highest-paid city manager in California, according to a compensation consultant retained by the city.

At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Councilmembers voted 6-0 to raise Grogan’s total annual compensation to approximately $630,000.

Mayor Lisa Gillmor was absent from the meeting, attending a US Conference of Mayors meeting in Washington, DC.

Grogan’s base salary alone will increase to approximately $430,000 before benefits and pension obligations are added. 

The latest amendment adds another 3 percent increase, pushing Grogan’s base salary above $430,000 and increasing long-term pension and benefit costs tied to executive compensation.

Grogan was hired in early 2023 from the City of San Bruno with a starting base salary of about $405,000, a significant jump from his prior compensation of $243,000.

After a few months in the job, the City Council approved multiple pay adjustments. 

In late 2023, Grogan’s salary increased to roughly $413,157, followed by a merit-based increase in early 2024 that raised his pay to approximately $418,220.

The 2026 raise is also retroactive.

The increase applies back to May 1, 2025, resulting in a lump-sum retroactive payment of approximately $8,686 for wages already earned before the contract amendment was formally approved.

Grogan’s salary increase continues to add to the cost of the most expensive City Manager’s Office in Santa Clara history.