Idaho for the first time has two school administrators earning more than $200,000 annually.
Derek Bub, superintendent for the West Ada School District, earns $214,965, and Coby Dennis, superintendent for the Boise School District, makes $204,337 per year, according to data compiled by the State Board of Education.
Bub’s salary jumped from $175,000 to $210,000 last school year, followed by a roughly $5,000 raise this year. Dennis’ pay surpassed the $200,000 mark this year, after he previously earned $191,866.
The data also shows that administrator salaries increased statewide for the third year in a row. For the 2023-2024 school year, administrators on average are earning $107,000. That’s up $375 since last year.
Aside from a slight dip in 2020-2021, administrator salaries have increased every year since 2015-2016, when the average pay was $85,264. Wages went up more than 25% during that period.
The average salary has fallen short of the pace of inflation, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ inflation calculator. A $85,264 salary in October 2015 has the same buying power as $110,299 in October 2023.
Idaho’s largest school districts, such as West Ada, Boise and Coeur d’Alene, are well represented among the highest paid administrators. But size isn’t the only factor determining higher salaries.
Scott Thomson, executive director of the North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, was formally the highest paid administrator in the state and this year his $197,600 annual salary ranks third.
Here are the top 10 administrator salaries, which does not include benefit compensation:
- $214,965 – Derek Bub, West Ada
- $204,337 – Coby Dennis, Boise
- $197,600 – Scott Thomson, North Idaho STEM Charter Academy
- $195,758 – Shon Hocker, Coeur d’Alene
- $183,200 – Becky Meyer, Lake Pend Oreille
- $180,000 – Jim Foudy, Blaine County
- $180,000 – Jason Bransford, Gem Prep: Online
- $177,944 – Shalene French, Caldwell
- $176,306 – Lisa Roberts, Boise
- $174,096 – Dena Naccarato, Post Falls
Superintendents earn about $8,600 more than other administrators, such as principals or department directors. Click here for a full list of superintendent and charter school director salaries for each Idaho school district.
Idaho Education News data analyst Randy Schrader contributed to this report.
