Highest-paid City of Winnipeg workers revealed in report

Winnipeg Police Chief Danny Smyth speaks to media on March 26, 2021.

A City of Winnipeg report shows that the former chief of police and CAO were among the highest-paid city workers in 2024.

According to Winnipeg’s 2024 Compensation Disclosure, the police chief made $498,841 last year, which is a substantial increase from 2023, when the position made $305,874.

Former Police Chief Danny Smyth spent nine months on the job in 2024, retiring from the role in September 2024 after nearly four decades with the Winnipeg Police Service. In March 2025, Gene Bowers, who has been with the service since 1989, took over as Winnipeg’s top cop.

An unnamed superintendent followed Smyth, earning $419,362 last year.

The third-highest-paid civil servant on the city’s compensation disclosure report also retired from his position last year.

According to the document, former chief administrative officer Michael Jack made $410,469 last year—up from $286,782 in 2023.

Jack resigned from the CAO position in June 2024, with Joseph Dunford expected to take over the role on Aug. 4.

Other notable names on the list include Mayor Scott Gillingham, who made $223,338; deputy CAO Moira Geer, who made $263,678; and Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Chief Christian Schmidt, who made $261,603.

The City of Winnipeg published the report as the Provincial Public Sector Compensation Act requires all Manitoba municipalities to release a list of all employees and members of the governing body who made $85,000 or more in the previous fiscal year. The list includes 4,253 employees, including 15 council members and the deputy mayor.

The compensation reported for each employee may include any combination of salary and taxable benefits, overtime retroactive pay adjustments, retirement allowance, sick and vacation pay cash outs, back pay, and severance pay. The figures do not include payments made or benefits accrued in relation to pension plans.

The full report can be found online.