Salary Survey Offers Insight Into Texas Superintendent Compensation 

The median superintendent salary for 2026-27 is $165,325, an increase of 5.1% from last year, according to the annual Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Superintendent Salary Survey.

“Strong leadership is critical to a district’s success, and superintendent compensation is an important part of attracting and retaining that leadership,” said Amy Campbell, division director of TASB HR Services. “The Superintendent Salary Survey gives school boards statewide salary and benefits data they can use when considering compensation in their own communities.” 

This year's survey included participation from 754 districts, representing 74% of districts in Texas. There was a wide variation in median salaries based on district size, with a range from $123,160 in districts with fewer than 500 students to $395,000 in districts with enrollments of 50,000 or more.  

The survey also looks at trends in superintendent experience. Superintendents have a median of three years in their current district and a median of four years as superintendent in any district, a trend that has stayed relatively consistent in recent years. Of the superintendents included in the survey, 71% have served only in their current district. Of the 145 districts with a new superintendent in 2026-27, 109 hired a first-time superintendent. 

Salaries comprise only one part of a superintendent’s overall compensation package. The survey results also include data on bonuses, transportation benefits, health insurance benefits, and cell phone reimbursement, all of which can add significant value.  

Key findings include:   

• 17% of responding districts (111) pay a car allowance to their superintendents, which is slightly down from last year. The median vehicle allowance is $7,000, a number that has stayed consistent. Only 9% of districts provide a vehicle for the sole use of the superintendent.   
• 87% of districts reported paying health insurance benefits for their superintendent, with a median contribution of $4,800 annually, which is up from last year.   
• 28% of districts (185) reported providing their superintendent with a cell phone allowance. The median is $1,200 annually, an amount unchanged from last year.   
• 42% of districts (280) reported paying a portion of the superintendent’s required Teacher Retirement System (TRS) contribution, an increase from last year. The median contribution is $18,000.  
• 12% of districts (81) provide either a residence or housing allowance. The median housing allowance is $9,200.  

TASB HR Services sends a survey invitation via email to all 1,018 school districts across the state. Salary data from districts with interim and part-time superintendents is not included.   

“School board trustees make decisions every day that shape the future of their districts,” Campbell said. “Our goal is to equip districts with practical resources and reliable data they can use to approach those decisions with confidence and a clear understanding of what’s happening across Texas.”