Coventry City Council’s chief executive earned £244,553 last year - over £100,000 more than the prime minister.
Martin Reeves, who has been the council’s chief executive since 2008, received a 20 per cent hike in his annual earnings last year due to extra payments for election duties and additional pension contributions.
That compares to an annual salary of £74,000 recently agreed for MPs and £142,500 a year for the prime minister.
Mr Reeves’ basic pay of £174,999 is paid directly by the council, and has not increased in the six years since he was appointed.
But in 2014/15 he received additional payments of £40,765 - with £19,392 being paid for his role as the authority’s returning officer and £11,283 more for overseeing the European and West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner elections in the area. Those payments come from central government funds and are not paid directly by the council.
Mr Reeves also received £38,878 in employer pension contributions - compared to £28,787 in 2013/14.
The six-figure salary and additional payments have been revealed in the council’s latest accounts and come against the backdrop of a 4.2 per cent cut in council revenue expenditure.
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Mr Reeves’ £213,877 earnings in basic pay and pension allowance are moderately lower than Birmingham City Council chief executive Mark Rogers who earned £221,372 in pay and pension allowance during 2014/15.
Elsewhere in the West Midlands Wolverhampton’s chief executive earned £158,124 in pay and pension, Solihull’s earned £117,722 and Sandwell’s made £157,192.
Out of 50 councils investigated, the highest paid chief executive in the country was Buckinghamshire’s Chris Williams who earned £265,035 in pay and pension.
A statement from Coventry City Council said: “Martin Reeves’ salary from Coventry City Council has not increased since he joined the authority in 2008.
“Other payments relating to local, European and police elections are not paid by the council.”
Mr Reeves was away on annual leave and unavailable for comment.