Superintendent Salary Survey Helps Districts Make Informed Financial Decisions

Austin— The median salary for a Texas school superintendent in 2024-25 is $153,176, an increase of 2.1% from the prior year, according to the annual Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) and the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) Superintendent Salary Survey. 

The survey is conducted each fall to help school districts across the state understand compensation trends. Of all the responsibilities entrusted to school board members, among the most important is hiring and evaluating a superintendent, said Amy Campbell, director of TASB HR Services, which administers the survey. 

“As districts wrestle with budget constraints, current compensation data helps school board members develop a compelling pay and benefits package to recruit or retain the best superintendent for their district,” Campbell said. 

This year's survey included participation from 755 districts, representing 74% of districts in Texas and marking a higher rate of participation over last year. There was a wide variation in median salaries based on district size, with a range from $115,000 in districts with fewer than 500 students to $362,250 in districts with enrollments of 50,000 or more. 

The survey also looks at trends in superintendent's experience. Of the 132 districts in Texas reporting a new superintendent in 2024-25, 91 school boards, or 69%, hired a superintendent with no previous experience in the position. This is consistent with the number of districts hiring a first-time superintendent in 2023-24. 

Campbell said the overall trend has stayed relatively constant in recent years. New superintendents generally have prior experience as a deputy or assistant superintendent, so they’re not entirely new to a district leadership role. 

Another data point of interest is the amount of time that superintendents spend in that role in their district. The median is about three years, which remains unchanged from last year. The median experience for superintendents overall is four years total.   

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:  

• 18% of responding districts (131) pay a car allowance to their superintendents, which is slightly down from last year. The median vehicle allowance is $6,000, a number that has stayed consistent. Only 9% of districts provide a vehicle for the sole use of the superintendent.  
• 89% of districts reported paying health insurance benefits for their superintendent, with a median contribution of $4,200 annually, which is up from last year. That percentage has stayed consistent between 84% and 89% over the past five years.  
• 33% of districts (238) reported providing their superintendent with a cell phone allowance. The median is $1,200 annually, an amount unchanged from last year.  
• 33% of districts (241) reported paying a portion of the superintendent’s required Teacher Retirement System (TRS)- contribution. The median contribution is $17,279, a slight decrease from last year.  
• 14% of districts (104) provide either a residence or housing allowance. The median housing allowance is $5,900, down slightly from last year’s median of $6,000.  

TASB HR Services sends a survey invitation via email to all 1,019 school districts across the state. Salary data from districts with interim and part-time superintendents is not included.  

“We always want to provide school board trustees with resources and information to help them make the best financial decisions,” Campbell said. “The survey data provides insights that can be used to develop superintendent contracts that reflect the market while bridging the needs of the district with that of its top leader.”