New Jersey / Chief Executive

Agency file

Chief Executive

Source file: New Jersey — YourMoney State Payroll / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Chief Executive is a government agency that delivers public services and programs within its jurisdiction.

In 2024, this agency had 64 employees with median total compensation of $101,530; the highest distinct record was $213,496.

Year: 2024
Total payroll: $7.4M
Employees: 64
Median total: $101,530
Highest record: $213,496

What the records show

Compensation analytics

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

Salary distribution

$37,883$205,019+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2024 total compensation is spread across the 64 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($101,530) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $113,094 (98%)
Overtime — $13 (0%)
Other — $2,863 (2%)
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

$59,505

$73,790

$101,530

$155,871

$189,875

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $189,875 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $59,505. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Aide to the Governor

51 · $98,054

Executive Assistant 4

2 · $141,624

Executive Assistant 2

2 · $78,231

Executive Assistant 1

2 · $64,769

Counsel to the Governor

1 · $213,496

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.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2023	$6.6M —	73 —	$78,993 —
2024	$7.4M ▲ 13.0%	64 ▼ 12.3%	$101,530 ▲ 28.5%

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Dawn Ottavi

Executive Assistant 2/Chief Executive

2024 total comp

$78,385

Sub-department: Office of the Governor
Base pay: $78,385
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,385
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: null

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Ottavi, Dawn
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 159623
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $81,689
Year-to-Date Earnings: $78,385

Dawn Ottavi is a Executive Assistant 2 at Chief Executive within Office of the Governor. Records show a hire date of null. 2024 total compensation came to $78,385. They are represented by Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Rita Petersen

Executive Assistant 2/Chief Executive

2024 total comp

$78,077

Sub-department: Office of the Governor
Base pay: $78,077
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,077
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Petersen, Rita F
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 155095
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $81,689
Year-to-Date Earnings: $78,077

At Chief Executive, Rita Petersen serves as a Executive Assistant 2 within Office of the Governor. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $78,077. Their bargaining unit is Professional Unit (Cwa) - Unit P.

Regina Petinos

Aide to the Governor/Chief Executive

2024 total comp

$73,790

Sub-department: Office of the Governor
Base pay: $73,790
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $73,790
Hire date: null
Union / bargaining unit: Exempt - Unit X
Pay basis: Annual
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

As-of Date: Dec 31, 2024
Calendar Quarter: 4
Full Name: Petinos, Regina C
Paid Section Description: null
Payroll ID: 160426
Record Type: Master
Salary Hourly Rate: $75,000
Year-to-Date Earnings: $73,790

At Chief Executive, Regina Petinos serves as a Aide to the Governor within Office of the Governor. Records show a hire date of null. Their 2024 pay totaled $73,790. Union affiliation: Exempt - Unit X.