The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is facing renewed scrutiny after a recent report revealed that the agency's total payroll topped $8 billion in 2024, with hundreds of employees earning six-figure sums from overtime alone.

The report, released by the Empire Center, highlights that 629 MTA employees made more than $100,000 just in overtime last year. Of those, 259 work on the Long Island Rail Road.

“That’s wasteful. That’s wasteful and the ticket keeps going up,” said LIRR commuter Atiba Stuart.

While overall overtime spending dropped slightly—1.1% from 2023—the figure still reached a staggering $1.36 billion. The MTA’s total payroll increased 2.6% year over year.

Passengers United President Charlton D’Souza criticized the spending as excessive.

“It’s ridiculous. And I think this is why riders are getting angry. They see all this blatant abuse of money—just wasteful spending,” he said.

The findings come amid the rollout of the controversial congestion pricing plan, which is projected to generate roughly $500 million annually for the MTA over its first three years.

In response to the report, MTA Co-Chief Financial Officer Jai Patel defended the agency’s financial management.

“The MTA successfully delivered on its goal of cutting $400 million through operating efficiencies last year, including cutting total overtime costs and keeping payroll growth below both inflation and general wage increases required under collective bargaining contracts,” Patel said in a statement.

Despite these efforts, some of the individual compensation figures have turned heads. The MTA’s top overtime earner in 2024 made more than $300,000 in overtime alone, pushing their total pay above $500,000 for the year.

The agency says it is aiming to ramp up savings to $500 million annually while continuing to improve transit services across the region.