Most districts freeze superintendent salaries

The average superintendent salary in Texas barely budged for 2011-12—increasing just 2 percent to $123,079—according to the latest results from the annual TASB/TASA Superintendent Salary Survey. That’s in large part because more than 60 percent of districts with a continuing superintendent froze their superintendent’s salary.

In the largest districts in Texas, those with more than 50,000 students, the average base salary is $268,812. Districts with fewer than 500 students saw average superintendent salaries rise slightly to $85,326, from $83,729 last year. Half of reported Texas superintendent salaries are less than $107,000.

Across Texas, the 62 percent of superintendents whose pay was frozen doubled from last year, when 30 percent of superintendents did not receive a raise. Overall, pay increases were a meager 1.6 percent on average. That’s a notable drop from last year’s 3.3 percent average increase which had been the lowest increase seen in more than 10 years.

On average, superintendents have been in their current job for five years and have eight total years of experience as a superintendent in any district. That’s the same as reported in 2010-11. Twelve percent of districts hired a new superintendent this year, up from 10 percent of districts last year. Nearly 8 percent of responding districts have a superintendent who is retired from the Teacher Retirement System (TRS).

Some of the other notable benefits provided by districts to superintendents include:

• Forty-five percent pay an average cell phone or Internet allowance of $1,206
• Forty-five percent pay for the superintendent’s membership to a civic or private organization or club at an average annual cost of $1,030
• Forty-four percent provide a health insurance premium benefit beyond what other full-time employees receive
• Eleven percent provide housing or a housing allowance
• Ten percent contribute to a tax-deferred investment account for the superintendent
• Nine percent provide additional insurance benefits such as life insurance or long-term disability policies at an average annual cost of $2,089.
• Five percent pay an average business expense allowance of $5,174

Seven hundred and eighty-eight Texas school districts participated in this year’s survey, representing 77 percent of districts statewide. Thirty-five districts reported having an interim superintendent and are not included in the analysis. Survey data is effective July 2011.

The full superintendent salary survey results for 2011-12 can now be accessed by DataCentral  subscribers. HR Services members that subscribe to DataCentral have the ability to use the online salary database to run customized comparison reports. The 2011-12 Superintendent Report (pdf) will be available to all HR Services members in myTASB  on Nov. 16. It will also be available for purchase in the TASB Store .

The Extra-Duty Stipend Survey has launched! Please take the time to participate  in our annual stipend survey on pay practices for extra-duty assignments due Dec. 2. The upcoming report based on these survey results takes an in-depth look at the state of stipends in the midst of the current financial crisis.

It’s not too late to complete the 2011–12 district personnel salary survey! Please submit your information by Nov. 9. Call or send us an e-mail (salary.survey@tasb.org) if you would like a copy of your responses from last year to use for reference.