Fayetteville publishes two salary tables, Non-Public Safety and Public Safety, and they share the same grade numbers and the same dollar ranges. Everything below is transcribed from the FY2026 Budget Book (pages 192 and 193) and compared with the first plan printed after the March 2022 study.
The March 2022 study (Council resolution R-9-22, presented by the City Manager on March 17, 2022) replaced the 2018 general scale and the June 2021 public-safety scale with one ladder of 5% grades and ranges about 55% wide. Since then the ranges have moved twice across the board: about 12% before September 2023 (the police recruiting brochure prints starting pay exactly 12% above the FY2023 minimums) and again under Resolution 25-R-31 in May 2025, for a combined 18.8% at grade 101. Council has also added and reclassified jobs piece by piece: R-65-24 (Public Services and Communications), 25-R-44 (Municipal Court), 25-R-67 (Planning and Zoning, Public Works), and an updated Personnel Manual in January 2026.
Across-the-board range moves keep the ladder's shape but not its fit: the market for a firefighter-paramedic, a planner and an IT specialist has not moved by the same percentage since 2022. We would test each benchmark class against its own market, check whether 5% grades still separate jobs the City wants separated, and model the step progression the RFQs ask about. The City's FY2026 strategic plan also names a pay-for-performance system as a workforce goal; the study's pay rules have to fit it.
| Rank (police / fire) | Grade | FY2026 minimum | Over the rank below |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police Recruit / Firefighter Recruit | 106 | $52,941 | |
| Certified Police Officer / Certified Firefighter | 108 | $58,367 | +10.3% |
| Police Officer III / Firefighter-EMT | 109 | $61,285 | +5.0% |
| Master Police Officer, Detective / Firefighter-Paramedic | 110 | $64,350 | +5.0% |
| Police Corporal / Fire Lieutenant | 112 | $70,945 | +10.3% |
| Police Sergeant / Fire Captain | 113 | $74,493 | +5.0% |
| Police Lieutenant / Fire Battalion Chief | 116 | $86,235 | +15.8% |
| Police Captain / Fire Division Chief, Fire Marshal | 117 | $90,546 | +5.0% |
| Police Major | 118 | $95,074 | +5.0% |
| Deputy Police Chief / Deputy Fire Chief | 120 | $104,819 | +10.3% |
| Police Chief / Fire Chief | 123 | $121,341 | +15.8% |
| Grade | Range | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | $41,480 to $64,295 | Administrative Clerk · Maintenance Tech · Municipal Clerk · Customer Service Rep · PD Records Clerk |
| 102 | $43,554 to $67,509 | Customer Service Rep II |
| 103 | $45,732 to $70,885 | Administrative Assistant · Business License Service Clerk · TAC/Records Clerk · Accounting Clerk |
| 104 | $48,019 to $74,429 | Deputy Court Clerk |
| 105 | $50,420 to $78,150 | Accounting Specialist · Crime Scene Technician · Heavy Equipment Operator · Senior Parks Maintenance Worker · Building Maintenance Specialist · Billing Coordinator |
| 106 | $52,941 to $82,058 | Code Enforcement Officer · Human Resources Analyst · Senior Accounting Specialist · Senior Deputy Clerk of Court · Crew Leader - Public Works · Crew Leader - Maintenance |
| 107 | $55,588 to $86,161 | Events Specialist · Planning Specialist · Crime Scene Evidence Manager · Office Manager · Communications Specialist · Court Services Coordinator · Business License Specialist |
| 108 | $58,367 to $90,469 | Deputy City Clerk · Senior Code Enforcement Officer · Clerk of Court |
| 109 | $61,285 to $94,992 | Planner |
| 110 | $64,350 to $99,742 | Development Inspector · GIS Analyst · Payroll Coordinator/Accountant · Purchasing Coordinator/Accountant · Benefits Coordinator |
| 111 | $67,567 to $104,729 | IT Systems Specialist · Program and Events Manager · Public Relations Specialist II · Senior Planner · Utility Billing Manager · Multimedia Content Producer · Court Manager · Accrediation Manager (sic) |
| 112 | $70,945 to $109,965 | IT Operations Coordinator · Economic Development Coordinator |
| 113 | $74,493 to $115,464 | Public Information Officer |
| 114 | $78,217 to $121,237 | City Clerk · IT Cybersecurity & Initiatives Administrator |
| 117 | $90,546 to $140,347 | Accounting Manager · Public Works Operations Manager · Planning and Zoning Manager · Human Resources Manager |
| 118 | $95,074 to $147,364 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 119 | $99,827 to $154,732 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 120 | $104,819 to $162,469 | Deputy Director of Public Services · Deputy Director of Finance & Administrative Services |
| 121 | $110,060 to $170,593 | Director of Economic Development · Director of IT · Director of Human Resources & Risk Mgt · Director of Communications · Director of Community Development · Director of Planning & Zoning |
| 122 | $115,563 to $179,122 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 123 | $121,341 to $188,078 | Director of Finance & Administrative Services · Director of Public Services |
| 124 | $127,408 to $197,482 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 125 | $133,778 to $207,356 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 126 | $140,467 to $217,724 | Assistant City Manager |
| 131 | $150,887 to $233,859 | City Manager |
| Grade | Range | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | $52,941 to $82,058 | Police Recruit · Firefighter Recruit |
| 107 | $55,588 to $86,161 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 108 | $58,367 to $90,469 | Certified Firefighter · Certified Police Officer · Police Bailiff (PT) |
| 109 | $61,285 to $94,992 | Firefighter/EMT · Police Officer III |
| 110 | $64,350 to $99,742 | Firefighter/Paramedic · Master Police Officer · Detective |
| 111 | $67,567 to $104,729 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 112 | $70,945 to $109,965 | Accreditation Manager · Fire Lieutenant · Police Corporal |
| 113 | $74,493 to $115,464 | Police Training Officer · Fire Training Officer · Community Risk Reduction Officer · Fire Captain · Police Sergeant |
| 114 | $78,217 to $121,237 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 115 | $82,128 to $127,299 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 116 | $86,235 to $133,664 | Fire Battalion Chief · Police Lieutenant |
| 117 | $90,546 to $140,347 | Fire Division Chief · Fire Marshal · Police Captain |
| 118 | $95,074 to $147,364 | Police Major |
| 119 | $99,827 to $154,732 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 120 | $104,819 to $162,469 | Deputy Fire Chief · Deputy Police Chief |
| 121 | $110,060 to $170,593 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 122 | $115,563 to $179,122 | no class assigned in the FY2026 table |
| 123 | $121,341 to $188,078 | Fire Chief · Police Chief |
Evergreen Solutions performed the City's 2017 to 2018 pay and classification study (RFP PC211-09); its general scale took effect October 18, 2018. A separate public-safety scale followed on June 24, 2021, months before the 2022 study began. The public record we found does not name the firm that performed the 2022 study; the City's Q&A says the study is available by open records request and will go to the selected firm.