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

Cultural Affairs Coordinator II
20 · $80,124
Program Director - Cultural Affairs
11 · $153,384
Deputy Commissioner
6 · $157,332
Projects Administrator
4 · $113,568
Student Intern
4 · $30,212

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

Kenya Merritt

Commissioner of Cultural Affairs/Spec Events/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$195,000
Base pay
$195,000
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$195,000
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$195,000

Kenya Merritt holds the role of Commissioner of Cultural Affairs/Spec Events at Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $195,000.

Tahira Baig

Deputy Commissioner/Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2026 total comp
$167,964
Base pay
$167,964
Overtime
$0
Other pay
$0
Benefits
$0
Total compensation
$167,964
Employment type
Full-Time
Pay basis
Salaried

Source-specific fields

Annual Salary
$167,964

Tahira Baig holds the role of Deputy Commissioner at Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Their status is full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $167,964.