Figures show that in the 2009/10 financial year, Simon Driver earned more than £165,000.
He was paid a salary of £131,191, as well as other benefits totalling £4,943 and an employers’ pension contribution of £28,923.
Mr Driver’s chief executive post was one of 10 identified in the latest TaxPayers’ Alliance Town Hall Rich List as having remuneration of more than £100,000.
North Lincolnshire Council has defended salaries paid to its top officials after the publication of the latest list.
The data, released by the TaxPayers’ Alliance, gives details on council staff who earned more than £100,000 in the 2009/10 financial year.
Since the period when the figures were taken, the council has had a restructure of its top officials, slimming the number of senior managers down from 12 to seven.
TaxPayers’ Alliance director Matthew Sinclair said: “Councils insist cuts can only mean pressure on frontline services, but they clearly have money to spend when it comes to paying their own senior staff.
“It is crucial that some of these senior council executives set an example and ensure they have the moral authority to lead spending cuts by taking a pay cut themselves.
“Households have seen their council tax bills double over the past decade and deserve better value. Proper transparency is an essential first step so that residents can decide for themselves if town hall bosses are delivering the results to justify pay at these sorts of levels.”
But a council spokesman emphasised the situation in North Lincolnshire did not reflect the picture painted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance.
He said: “It is unfortunate that the TaxPayers’Alliance chooses to tar all councils with the same brush.
“As reported, North Lincolnshire Council recently underwent a restructure and has reduced its number of senior managers from 12 posts to seven. The figures quoted by the Alliance do not reflect the new council management structure and several of the posts listed no longer exist.
“Streamlining the top tier of council management is the best way for us to make significant savings without compromising our service to the public.”
The spokesman added: “As chief executive of the council, Simon Driver echoed these views and did not wish to comment further.”
North Lincolnshire Council is to axe more than 550 jobs over the next four years. The move will affect 553 posts, or 338 full-time equivalents, in departments across the council, which employs about 7,200 people. It comes as the authority looks to make savings of £15 million over the next financial year.