Ohio Transit Worker Earned $230K Overtime in 2025

A vehicle maintenance worker at the Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA), Keith White, earned nearly $230,000 in overtime pay in 2025, making him the second-highest paid employee at the organization. White's total gross pay for the year reached $352,904, surpassing all employees except the president and CEO. His earnings comprised a base salary of approximately $66,000, $228,000 in overtime, a $550 bonus, and $57,000 in miscellaneous pay, including payouts for unused holiday and sick time.

According to Bobby Berryhill, financial secretary for the Transport Workers Union of America Local 208, White's extensive overtime is a result of his dedication, working every day without taking sick, vacation, or personal days for the past decade. Berryhill stated that White, who has been with COTA for 18 years, has not called out of work for any reason in the last 10 years. At the end of each year, White is compensated for all accrued vacation and sick time he did not utilize.

Several factors within COTA's operational structure and union contract contribute to the possibility of such high overtime earnings. The agreement between COTA and TWU Local 208 allows vehicle maintenance workers like White to volunteer for and trade overtime shifts. COTA's maintenance shops operate continuously, 24/7, to support its bus fleet, ensuring a constant availability of overtime shifts. This, coupled with reported chronic understaffing, creates ample opportunities for employees to pick up extra work and increase their earnings significantly.