Former Wellington City Council chief executive Garry Poole will be earning $80,000 less in his new role as Tauranga City Council chief executive.
Tauranga City Council this week announced Mr Poole had been appointed as the new chief executive and would take up the role in April.
Mr Poole said the $340,000 salary he would be receiving in Tauranga was fair.
"I've looked at the information provided by the council and that information supports that what I'm being paid is in line with the market," he said.
Mr Poole said he had been considering other options but the Tauranga job was "by far the most exciting and carried the most challenge and opportunity".