Photo: Jon Manchester/file

The ranks of of those who earn high five-figure salaries with the City of Kelowna has swelled to more than 400 for the first time.

As part of its 2018 annual report, the city says those earning $75,000 or more grew from 380 in 2017 to 407 last year. That includes 18 more managers and 10 more unionized CUPE workers.

According to city figures, one less firefighter hit that target in 2018.

The city is required by the province, as part of its annual report, to itemize those employees who earn at least $75,000 annually.

In all, salaries paid out by the city, which topped $70 million for the first time in 2017, nudged up 4.4 per cent to $73.9 million in 2018.

City officials say two per cent of that increase was due to increased wages and salaries from collective agreements and contracts, while the balance paid for additional staffing.

Because he took over the job partway through the year, city manager Doug Gilchrist, who oversees all city operations, wasn't the biggest earner in 2018. That distinction goes to deputy city manager Joe Creron, who took home $230,725. Gilchrist was second on the list at $221,139.

That number will grow exponentially in 2019, since his predecessor, Ron Mattiussi made $150,000 over the first few months of his final tenure with the city.

The rest of the city's top 10 includes:

Including council remuneration and benefits, the city paid out a total of $88.85 million.