Port Authority Payroll Tops $1.2 Billion as 20 Employees Earn More Than $400,000

NEW YORK — Payroll at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey surpassed $1.2 billion in 2025, with 20 employees receiving more than $400,000 in total compensation, according to an analysis of agency payroll data.

The figures show that overtime played a significant role in the highest compensation totals, particularly among employees in the agency’s Police Department.

Overtime Drives Some of the Highest Pay

According to the Empire Center’s review of 2025 payroll records, 20 Port Authority employees earned more than $400,000, including 17 police employees.

Police Lt. Nicholas Feferico ranked as the highest-paid employee, receiving approximately $466,775 in total compensation, including more than $215,000 in overtime.

Overall, Port Authority employees received about $196 million in overtime during the year.

Hundreds Received Significant Overtime

The payroll data shows that 323 employees received more than $100,000 in overtime in 2025.

Police employees represented the largest portion of that group, with 189 officers receiving more than $100,000 in overtime. The Police Department accounted for approximately 43% of the agency’s total overtime spending, despite representing about 24% of the workforce.

The agency said police overtime declined by about 9% compared with the previous year.

Overall Payroll Increased

The Port Authority’s total payroll increased about 5%, from roughly $1.15 billion in 2024 to more than $1.2 billion in 2025.

Average compensation also increased approximately 3%, reaching about $144,033 across a workforce of 8,356 employees.

The Port Authority operates major transportation and infrastructure facilities throughout the New York-New Jersey region, including airports, bridges, tunnels, PATH rail service and other transportation facilities.

Agency Defends Compensation Costs

Port Authority officials have said overtime expenses are connected to the agency’s security responsibilities and the demands of operating major transportation infrastructure.

A spokesperson also pointed to efforts to strengthen oversight of overtime spending.

The Empire Center, meanwhile, has raised concerns about the long-term financial impact of high compensation and overtime costs, including potential effects on pension obligations and transportation costs.

Debate Over Public-Sector Compensation

The latest payroll figures have renewed discussion about compensation at large public authorities and the role of overtime in determining employee earnings.

The data does not necessarily mean that the highest-paid employees receive those amounts as base salaries. In many cases, substantial overtime and other compensation account for a significant portion of total annual pay.

The Port Authority has not indicated that the reported compensation figures violate agency policies, and the payroll data itself does not establish wrongdoing by any employee.

This version keeps the strong payroll story while avoiding accusations or language that could unfairly imply misconduct.