Highest paid Fresno County employees rack up OT and benefits. The top 50 list
The highest paid Fresno County public employees brought in significant compensation packages last year with their regular pay buoyed by benefits and overtime dollars, according to records obtained by The Fresno Bee.
The county’s top administrator, CAO Paul Nerland, topped the list in compensation at $534,191, which includes $334,076 in pay, $176,637 from the employer portion of his defined benefits plan and $23,748 for health benefits, records show.
The median household income in Fresno County was $74,201 in 2024, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Nerland was not paid any overtime dollars, but the county paid more into his defined benefits plan than anyone else in the top 50 paid employees other than Undersheriff Stephen McComas, who received about $2,000 more in that benefit. McComas was compensated $453,404 in pay and benefits in 2025, according to the records.
Some of the highest paid county employees padded their checks with significant overtime pay. Deputy Darren Bounlutay made more in overtime ($152,157) than his regular pay of $104,074. The same was true for Deputy Jerry Kitchens, whose regular pay of $110,376 was less than the $128,643 he racked up in overtime.
Senior Correctional Officer Vannak Soun pulled down $86,993 in regular pay and close to twice that at $147,074 in overtime pay.
The two highest paid elected employees of the county also ranked in the top 50.
Sheriff John Zanoni’s compensation package was $433,987, which included pay of $240,683 plus benefits. District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp was paid $247,456 plus benefits for a total package of $396,199.
