But supporters say Dunedin Venues chief executive Terry Davies is worth every penny, after helping Forsyth Barr Stadium turn a corner and secure a string of major concerts.
The company's most recent annual report, for 2017, showed Dunedin Venues had one employee - understood to be Mr Davies - earning between $350,000 and $359,999.
That was a big jump from the $200,000 base salary and an additional $25,000 at-risk portion, awarded to Mr Davies when he took up his role in 2014.
In 2016, the company listed one employee - also believed to be Mr Davies - earning between $270,000 and $279,999.
By comparison, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull received $146,732, plus the use of a car, in 2016-17, while council chief executive Sue Bidrose now earns $379,355 a year.
Mr Davies' rising pay came as he helped Forsyth Barr Stadium land big acts such as Fleetwood Mac, Ed Sheeran and an upcoming performance by Kendrick Lamar, together pumping tens of millions of dollars into Dunedin's economy.
Mr Davies was not commenting yesterday, but others said his pay was money well spent.
Mr Cull said that the city council held Mr Davies "in the highest regard''.
"He has done a superb job and really very early came to grips with the purpose of the facility and what it would take to get it up and humming, and he has.
"Given the achievements of the stadium, I think we are getting very good value from Mr Davies.''
Council chief executive Sue Bidrose said Mr Davies was "an incredibly valuable asset for this city''.
"His skill set in delivering for us is remarkable, when you think back to the difficulties we had in the first few years of the stadium,'' Dr Bidrose said.
"In terms of the economic return for the city, he is gifted and he is doing an incredibly good job.''
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dougal McGowan said Mr Davies' success went beyond concerts, and included developing the culture and skills within Dunedin Venues.
Council finance committee chairman Cr Mike Lord said the prospect of competition with a roofed stadium in Christchurch meant attention needed to turn to how best to retain Mr Davies.
Dr Bidrose said that was a matter for Dunedin Venues, but she was "sure his board are having those conversations''.
"I know they value him as much as we do.''
Mr Davies said last month he was enjoying Dunedin.
He had "no reason ... to even think about anything different,'' he said.
"I like Dunedin.
"I mean, we're winning.''
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Could buy a lot of sausages for hungry Dunedin kids and impoverished local students, especially still-growing young men, who need to eat much more than an adult man, for that kind of money.