The directly elected mayor of Greater Birmingham – who will be responsible for a budget of billions – is set to earn less in a year than controversial Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor picks up in five days.

The region’s future political figurehead, despite being likened in power and scope to a Government cabinet minister, is being lined up for a £40,000 per year salary – dubbed a “joke”.

While it more than the average Birmingham salary of £26,000 it is minuscule compared to senior management and board room roles in both business and the public sector.

The chief executive of Birmingham Airport is paid £549,000, a hospital chairman £50,000 and even the leader of Birmingham City Council gets £66,000.

Even the Mayor of Liverpool, which is a fraction the size of the West Midlands region, makes £80,000 a year.

The Labour West Midlands Police Commissioner David Jamieson, who earns £100,000 per year, said: “It’s a joke. It’s less than the head of primary school.

Midlands Metro mayor's £40k salary compared

Jacqui Smith

Job: University Hospital B'ham NHS Trust chairman

Annual salary: £50,000

Time taken to earn £40k: 41 weeks 5 days

Jacqui Smith, politician (MP for Redditch from 1997 to 2010, first woman to become Home Secretary). Jacqui was born in Malvern and moved to Redditch in 1986; she still lives in Redditch, sharing her home with husband Richard and sons James and Michael. She taught economics at Arrow Vale High School in Redditch from 1986 to 1988
Jacqui Smith

John Clancy

Job: Leader of B'ham City Council

Annual salary: £66,000

Time taken to earn £40k: 31 weeks 2 days

Birmingham Council leader John Clancy visits new council houses in Nechells

Shabana Mahmood

Job: MP for Ladywood

Annual salary: £74,962

Time taken to earn £40k: 27 weeks 6 days

Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood
Shabana Mahmood, Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood

Mark Rogers

Job: B'ham City Council chief executive

Annual salary: £180,000

Time taken to earn £40k: 11 weeks 4 days

Mark Rogers.

David Eastwood

Job: University of Birmingham vice-chancellor

Annual salary: £416,000

Time taken to earn £40k: 35 days

Sir David Eastwood.

Paul Kehoe

Job: Birmingham Airport CEO

Annual salary: £549,000

Time taken to earn £40k: 27 days

Paul Kehoe.

Moeen Ali

Job: England cricketer

Annual salary: £700,000

Time taken to earn £40k: 3 Weeks

Moeen Ali playing for England against India during the 2014 One Day International series
Moeen Ali

Liv Garfield

Job: Severn Trent Water CEO

Annual salary: £2.1m

Time taken to earn £40k: 1 week

Liv Garfield
Liv Garfield

Nigel Stein

Job: GKN chief executive

Annual salary: £2.9million

Time taken to earn £40K: 5 days

Nigel Stein.

Gaby Agbonlahor

Job: Aston Villa player

Annual salary: £3.1 million

Time taken to earn £40K: 4 days 17 hours

Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor,

“The mayor will be a full time position and the most powerful elected official outside of London. What sort of candidates are we going to get if the pay is £40,000?”

The elected mayor will be responsible for a budget of billions handed down from Government departments in London to invest in jobs, business, transport and housing and is hoped will transform the economic fortunes of the West Midlands.

At some stage the mayor is also likely to replace the police commissioner and could take on significant health service responsibilities.

Job Person Annual salary Time taken to earn £40K
Aston Villa player Gaby Agbonlahor £3.1 million 4 days 17 hours
GKN chief executvie Nigel Stein £2.9m 5 days
Severn Trent Water CEO Liv Garfield £2.1m 1 week
England cricketer Moeen Ali £700,000 3 weeks
Birmingham Airport CEO Paul Kehoe £549,000 27 days
University of Birmingham vice-chancellor David Eastwood £416,000 35 days
B'ham City Council chief executive Mark Rogers £180,000 11 weeks 4 days
MP for Ladywood Shabana Mahmood £74,962 27 weeks 6 days
Leader of B'ham City Council John Clancy £66,000 31 weeks 2 days
University Hospital B'ham NHS Trust chairman Jacqui Smith £50,000 41 weeks 5 days
Mayor of West Midlands to be arranged £40,000 1 year

Former Government health secretary Andy Burnham, who is running for mayor of Greater Manchester next year, has compared the role to that of a Cabinet Minister in its scale and scope.

It was hoped that a big hitter from the world of business or politics would come forward for the role and sell the city around the world. But that would seem remote given the pay level.

Below: Sadiq Khan becomes Mayor of London

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