Hamilton City Council chief executive Richard Briggs has received a pay boost of almost $16,000.

The increase of $15,840 before tax will take his total annual remuneration package, including KiwiSaver, to $469,040 and is his first pay rise since 2017.

It equates to an increase of just less than 1.75 per cent for each of the past two years.

The raise puts Briggs only slightly behind Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who takes home $471,000.

The last council did not approve a pay rise for Mr Briggs last August, leaving it for the new council elected in October to deal with.

The last council also resolved that any pay increase adjustment should commence from 1 July 2019.

Mayor Paula Southgate began the review process before Christmas.

The process was robust and his remuneration and performance had gone through intense scrutiny, she said.

It included an independent market comparison of the remuneration earned by other council chief executives, as well as a comparison of the remuneration earned for similar sized roles in both the public and private sectors.

"We have an obligation as employers to meet all contractual requirements and that is what we have done. But we also have an obligation to the city to make sure that we are doing what is best for ratepayers," Southgate said.

"Richard is a highly competent chief executive and is performing at a very high-level on behalf of the city. The remuneration package reflects both the market, Richard's ongoing very strong performance and the challenging responsibilities that he carries.

"I have appreciated his professionalism throughout this process."

The pay increase was approved by a majority of councillors at a meeting on Tuesday.

Briggs has been in the chief executive's job at the council since 2014. His contract, as required by law, will be reviewed in October 2021.