GCGovComp.app

City of Chicago / Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

Agency file

Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

Source file: City of Chicago — Employee Salaries / ingested Jun 19, 2026

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events supports cultural and educational resources such as libraries, museums, and the arts.

In 2026, this agency had 66 employees with median total compensation of $98,394; the highest distinct record was $195,000.

Year
2026
Total payroll
$7.1M
Employees
66
Median total
$98,394
Highest record
$195,000

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 66 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($98,394) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

  • Base$107,550 (100%)
  • Overtime$0 (0%)
  • Other$0 (0%)
  • Benefits$0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
$69,684
$80,124
$98,394
$139,140
$153,384

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $153,384 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $69,684. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Record list

Employees

Page 1

James Castillo

Program Director - Cultural Affairs/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$153,384
Base pay
$153,384
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$153,384
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$153,384

James Castillo holds the role of Program Director - Cultural Affairs at Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $153,384.

Joseph Fonzino

Program Director - Cultural Affairs/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$153,384
Base pay
$153,384
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$153,384
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$153,384

Joseph Fonzino holds the role of Program Director - Cultural Affairs at Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $153,384.

Yescenia Mota

Program Director Special Events/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$153,384
Base pay
$153,384
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$153,384
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$153,384

Yescenia Mota holds the role of Program Director Special Events at Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $153,384.

Zhenesse Heinemann

Program Director - Cultural Affairs/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$153,384
Base pay
$153,384
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$153,384
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$153,384

Zhenesse Heinemann works as a Program Director - Cultural Affairs for Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Their status is full-time. Zhenesse earned $153,384 in 2026.

Neal Heitz

Program Director - Cultural Affairs/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$153,384
Base pay
$153,384
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$153,384
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$153,384

At Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Neal Heitz serves as a Program Director - Cultural Affairs. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $153,384.

Lisa Lorick

Assistant Commissioner/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$153,384
Base pay
$153,384
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$153,384
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$153,384

At Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Lisa Lorick serves as a Assistant Commissioner. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $153,384.

Laura Trejo Lozano

Program Director - Cultural Affairs/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$153,384
Base pay
$153,384
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$153,384
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$153,384

Laura Trejo Lozano works as a Program Director - Cultural Affairs for Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Their status is full-time. Laura earned $153,384 in 2026.

Melanie Wang

Program Director - Cultural Affairs/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$153,384
Base pay
$153,384
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$153,384
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$153,384

At Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Melanie Wang serves as a Program Director - Cultural Affairs. They work full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $153,384.