From overseeing water and sewer systemsto managing public health programs and county finances, Brunswick County's top administrators command some of the highest salaries in local government.
As Brunswick County continues to grow, so do the responsibilities of officials tasked with managing its services, infrastructure and finances. Salary records received during a StarNews public records request show the county manager as the county's highest-paid employee, at $236,617 a year, with nine other department heads and senior administrators earning more than $177,000 annually.
Brunswick County's highest-paid employees are concentrated in top administrative, public utilities, public safety and health services positions, according to county salary records.
Steven Stone, county manager
He earns a salary of $236,617 and has been with the county since 2000, according to the county's website. Stone began serving as the county manager in January 2022, previously serving as deputy county manager. The county manager is the head of the county’s executive branch and is responsible for the administration of the county’s operations. The manager creates and implements policies, develops long-term visions for the county’s planning, manages budgets and oversees a variety of other operations.
David Stanley III, deputy county manager
He earns a salary of $231,658 and has been with the county since 1996. Stanley served various roles for the county's health department before becoming deputy county manager in 2021. The deputy county manager has oversight responsibility for the county's public health, social services, public housing, and veteran services departments and serves as liaison to county nonprofits, according to the county website.
John Nichols, public utilities director
He earns a salary of $225,064 and has worked for Brunswick County since May 2006. He was appointed public utilities director in January 2017 after serving for more than a decade as assistant director.
Catherine Lytch, health and human services executive director
She earns a salary of $207,108 and has been with the county since 2012. Prior to becoming the health and human services executive director in 2024, Lytch served as the county’s social work program administrator and social services director. Lytch oversees the county’s health services, public housing, social services, and emergency medical services departments. She also serves as a staff liaison on the Health and Human Services Advisory Board.
Neil Brooks, deputy county manager
He earns a salary of $195,177 and has been with the county since 2025. Brooks previously worked for the town of Leland as a assistant town manager, operations director and senior planner As deputy county manager, Brooks is responsible for supporting the following departments: planning, code administration, engineering, operations, parks and recreation, library and elections.
Bryan Batton, county attorney
He earns a salary of $194,130 and has been with the county since 2011. Batton transitioned from assistant county attorney to county attorney in 2024. As county attorney, Batton serves as the county government's chief legal adviser, providing counsel to commissioners, administrators and county departments on legal matters ranging from contracts and policy issues to litigation.
Brian Chism, sheriff
He earns a salary of $192,924 and began his career with the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office in 2004. Chism was promoted to chief deputy in August 2022, the highest appointed rank within the sheriff’s office. In May 2023, he was appointed by the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners to serve as sheriff following the retirement of John W. Ingram V.
Robby Hall, social services director
He earns a salary of $183,046 and has been the social services director since September 2024. The social services department administers public assistance, child welfare, adult services and child support programs under the county's health and human services department
Aaron Smith, finance director
He earns a salary of $181,554 and has been with the county since 2013. Smith held the position of deputy finance officer before transitioning into his current role in 2021. A county’s finance director is responsible for many duties including budget execution, asset management, financial analysis, financial reporting, financial planning and more.
Cynthia Hewett, Information Technology director
She earns a salary of $177,613 and was hired as the director in December 2021. Hewett previously worked for the county as an administrative assistant and accounting technician from 1996-1999.
How much do Brunswick County commissioners get paid?
According to the Brunswick County 2026 approved budget, each board member of the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners gets paid about $1,370 biweekly, or roughly $35,623 annually. The chairman, Mike Forte, gets paid about $1,696.23 biweekly, or roughly $44,101 annually.
To see more salaries, you can go to https://data.starnewsonline.com/salary/.
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Savanna Tenenoff covers Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach her at stenenoff@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Who are Brunswick County's highest-paid employees? | Exclusive
