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More than 1,000 employees of Lexington County made enough money to be named on a public list of the county’s highest paid public employees.
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The State asked the county for a list of its administrative staff, fire, EMS and sheriff’s personnel arranged by income as of June 16.
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act allows compensation for employees with earnings equaling $50,000 or more annually to be released — in Lexington County’s case, almost 1,100 individuals in total.
County Administrator Lynn Sturkie is the highest paid county employee, with an annual salary of $263,463.72.
The next highest-paid employee made just under $200,000 as of June 2026. James Spence is Lexington County’s master-in-equity, a judicial official who hears civil cases involving foreclosures or property disputes. Spence made $199,732.50.
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Sheriff Jay Koon is the highest paid elected official in the county at $163,898.03, followed by Deputy County Administrator Michael Spires, who makes $163,432.62.
Other department heads made the top 10: Chief Financial Officer Jordyn Baker, who makes $149,000; Chief Human Resources Officer Dana Wilkerson, who has a salary of $142,780.89; and Director of Information Services Jeffrey Brewer, who makes $135,861.31.
The top of the list is rounded out by prosecuting attorneys in the county solicitor’s office: Senior Deputy Solicitor Alton Eargle ($137,642.51), Deputy Solicitor Laura Mayes ($150,993.94) and Deputy Solicitor Rhonda Patterson ($143,699.88).
In all, 73 Lexington County employees make more than $100,000 a year, according to numbers provided by the county.
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To search for an individual employee, type their name into the search field.
