100 Employees of the LA DWP Earn More Than $500,000 a Year. About Six Times What Your Family Makes Annually.

LOS ANGELES - Public records show that dozens of employees at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) received total annual compensation exceeding $500,000 in recent years, drawing attention amid the utility's multibillion-dollar budget and its role serving millions of residents.

According to data from Transparent California, which aggregates public employee salary and compensation information, more than 100 LADWP workers had total pay above $500,000 in 2023, with roughly two dozen surpassing $600,000 and a smaller number exceeding $700,000. These figures typically include base salary, overtime, and other pay components such as benefits or retirement contributions.

Many of the highest-paid roles involve specialized technical positions, such as load dispatchers, electrical distribution mechanics, and supervisors, where overtime can significantly boost earnings during periods of high grid demand, emergencies, or maintenance needs. LADWP, as the nation's largest municipal utility, operates a complex power and water system prone to peak loads and reliability challenges in a large metropolitan area.

The department's combined water and power operations carry a substantial budget. For fiscal year 2025-2026, the Power Revenue Fund alone had appropriations totaling approximately $7.81 billion (net roughly $6.85 billion after certain receipts), while overall water and power activities have been referenced in public discussions around an $11 billion scale when combining systems. LADWP provides electricity and water to about 4 million residents across Los Angeles.

Oversight of LADWP rests with the five-member Board of Water and Power Commissioners, whose members are appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles and confirmed by the City Council. Mayor Karen Bass has made appointments to the board in recent years, including in 2025 and 2026. The board sets policy and approves major decisions, including aspects of executive compensation and operations. Like many large California cities, Los Angeles city government leadership is predominantly aligned with the Democratic Party.

The compensation details resurfaced in a video clip shared widely on social media, in which reality television personality and Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt highlighted the figures while criticizing LADWP leadership and spending priorities. Pratt has been vocal about city governance issues, including utility management during events like the 2025 Palisades wildfire, and has filed related legal actions.

LADWP's staffing includes over 11,000–14,000 positions across power and water systems, with authorized roles ranging from engineers and operators to administrative and managerial staff. Base salaries for top positions, such as the General Manager, can reach several hundred thousand dollars annually, though total compensation varies with overtime and other factors. Union contracts, technical skill requirements, and California's energy demands contribute to these payroll dynamics.

Public discourse has questioned whether such pay levels represent efficient use of ratepayer and taxpayer funds, especially given ongoing challenges with electricity rates (often above national averages), infrastructure reliability, and past water supply issues during emergencies. Proponents of the compensation structure argue it is necessary to attract and retain skilled workers for a critical utility operating 24/7 in a high-cost region with frequent grid stresses.

As of early 2026, LADWP was undergoing leadership transitions, with interim management appointed following the departure of a previous chief executive. The department continues to manage ongoing budgets focused on reliability, renewable energy integration, and infrastructure upgrades.

This situation reflects broader debates in California about public sector compensation, municipal utility governance, and accountability in one-party dominant urban administrations. Full, up-to-date payroll data is available through Transparent California and LADWP's annual personnel resolutions and budgets.