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Executive Compensation

A Message From CEO Darrell E. Johnson


The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has a long history of accountability, openness and transparency, which is fundamental to the success of any public agency.

Annual Compensation for all OCTA employees. In compliance with AB 2040, please click on the following link to access the Government Compensation in California website that lists annual salary information for all OCTA employees.

  • Integrity
  • Customer Focus
  • Can-Do Spirit
  • Communication
  • Teamwork / Partnership
  • Safety
Darrell E. Johnson

Living up to our core value of communication means that we operate with complete transparency. We strive to always provide timely, accurate, and useful information to our customers, stakeholders, our partners, and you, our taxpayers.

Because of this, we believe it’s important to post the salaries and benefits of our Board Members and employees. As a public employee, I understand the scrutiny of my salary and the compensation for the rest of our employees and as a taxpayer, I welcome it.

The executive compensation information below is inclusive, representing not only salaries but deferred compensation, auto allowance and other benefits such as health, retirement, and life insurance benefits. All other administrative employees' salary information by position can be accessed with the Personnel and Salary Resolution. This document also provides an overview of employee benefits.

Annual Compensation for all OCTA employees. In compliance with AB 2040, please click on the following link to access the Government Compensation in California website that lists annual salary information for all OCTA employees.

As OCTA's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), my annual salary is $409,448, with an additional $55,072 annually that includes $45,472 deferred compensation, $9,180 for a car allowance and $420 for cell phone allowance and $153,348 in benefits, making my total compensation $617,868. The OCTA Deputy Chief Executive Officer’s annual salary is $331,781, with an additional $26,189 that includes $16,589 deferred compensation, $9,180 for a car allowance, $420 for a cell phone allowance and $133,171 in benefits, making the total compensation $491,141. Information for the remainder of the executive team is shown in the executive compensation chart below.

At OCTA, we continually support a great workplace by offering competitive pay and benefits through a total rewards package consistent with other public agencies of similar size and operations. OCTA is a pay-for-performance employer that encourages, values, and recognizes exceptional effort and ideas. We strive to attract and retain top-quality employees within the marketplace.

OCTA offers medical, dental, and vision coverage to administrative employees. Costs vary based on the plan each employee selects. OCTA participates in Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS). The majority of OCTA employees participate in OCERS Plan B which is 1.667% at 57 ½. The employee share of the retirement benefit costs are based on the employee's age of entry into the retirement system. All employees pay 100% of the employee contribution. Administrative employees entering public agency employment and public retirement system membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2015 participate in Plan U which is 2.5% at age 67. The earliest date of retirement is age 52 or older with 5 or more years of Service Credit.

OCTA provides an auto allowance of $9,180 annually for the CEO, Deputy CEO, executive directors, and directors consistent with the Personnel and Salary Resolution, which links the allowance to the amount paid to senior management at the County of Orange.

Per the California Public Utilities Code, the OCTA allows members of the Board necessary traveling and personal expenses incurred in the performance of duties authorized by the Board and may allow members per diem compensation at the maximum rate of $100 per day, not to exceed $500 in any calendar month, for attending Board meetings and for performance of any other services for OCTA as authorized by the Board. Compensation for mileage will be paid at the IRS rate to any member who does not have a city-owned or county-owned vehicle.

Medical, dental, vision, and term life insurance also are available to Board Members, and amounts vary depending on when a member began serving on the Board and whether the member receives insurance from another public agency. The detailed description of what Board Members receive for insurance is available in the Personnel and Salary Resolution on page 14.

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