The Highest Paid Public Employee in Every State

Source: Wikimedia Commons

16. Kansas
> Highest paid employee: Bill Self
> Position: College basketball coach
> Salary: $4.94 million

Kansas University’s men’s team is one of the most successful and popular basketball teams in the nation. As head coach of the University of Kansas Jayhawks, Bill Self is paid close to $5 million annually.

17. Kentucky
> Highest paid employee: John Calipari
> Position: College basketball coach
> Salary: $6.88 million

During the 2014-2015 season, University of Kentucky men’s basketball head coach John Calipari led the Wildcats to 38 straight wins without a loss, the best start in school history. His $6.88 million annual salary is the highest of any public employee in the state. Kentucky is the only state in the Southeastern Conference whose top-earning public worker is not a college football coach.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

18. Louisiana
> Highest paid employee: Les Miles
> Position: College football coach
> Salary: $4.39 million

Like nearly every state in the Southeastern Conference, the highest paid public employee in Louisiana is a college football coach. In the latest season, head coach of the Louisiana State University football team Les Miles was paid $4.39 million. Under his current contract, Miles will coach the Tigers through the 2019 season.

Source: staticweb.maine.edu

19. Maine
> Highest paid employee: James H. Page
> Position: Chancellor of University of Maine System
> Salary: $277,500

In the absence of a multi-billion dollar grossing sports program, Maine’s highest paid public employee is another university system employee. The University of Maine System Chancellor, Dr. James H. Page, brings in an estimated $277,500 annually.

Source: Wikimedia Commons

20. Maryland
> Highest paid employee: Mark Turgeon
> Position: College basketball coach
> Salary: $2.37 million

Like most other public employees with a seven figure salary, Mark Turgeon is the head coach of a college sports team. As the head coach of the University of Maryland men’s basketball team, Turgeon is the best-paid public employee in Maryland.