Pay Increases
According to the annual TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey of Texas districts, 70 percent of responding districts increased base salaries for their continuing superintendents.
The average pay increase in 2018‒2019 for continuing superintendents was 3.1 percent. For the past six years, pay increases have remained between 2.9 percent and 3.2 percent, with lower increases granted the fall after a legislative session.
Examining respondent pay increases in relation to the Texas Education Agency (TEA)-defined district community types, superintendents in non-metropolitan fast-growing districts experienced the highest average increase (3.6 percent). Superintendents in rural districts, which comprise 41 percent of survey respondents, received a 3 percent average pay raise. Of the 10 major urban participants, superintendents received a 1.1 percent average pay increase.
Salaries and experience
The average superintendent salary among respondents for 2018‒2019 is $148,854. Half of reported superintendent salaries in Texas are $128,000 or less.
In districts with fewer than 500 students, the average superintendent salary is $97,270, up from $96,119 last year. These districts account for one-quarter of survey participants. In the largest Texas districts—those with more than 50,000 students—average base pay is $321,253, up slightly from $320,532.
Analyzing superintendent salaries by community type, average base pay in rural districts is $102,711, up from $101,227 last year. TEA classifies 458 of the 1,022 public school districts in Texas as rural. Superintendent salaries average $314,670 among the 10 major urban districts—similar to last year.
In Texas, responding superintendents have held the position in their current district for an average of four years and have seven total years of experience as a superintendent in any district. Of the 99 districts (14 percent) with a new superintendent for 2018–2019, 62 districts hired a superintendent with no previous experience in the position.
Other benefits and incentives
In addition to incentive pay, the survey collects data on transportation and housing allowances, health insurance benefits, retirement benefits, and other compensation to form a picture of total compensation. Among respondents, a Texas superintendent’s base salary makes up 95 percent of total compensation.
Survey information
- 1,022 Texas public school districts received the Superintendent Salary Survey questionnaire.
- 746 districts participated, representing 73 percent of districts in Texas.
- 31 interim superintendents were reported in districts. (Not included in the analysis.)
- Data represents only the survey participants. Survey participants may not have answered all questions.
TASB HR Services members can access 2018‒2019 Superintendent Salary Survey data in DataCentral.
Tagged: Compensation, "Salary surveys", "Superintendent salaries"