Complete report in PDF format

A searchable online database of earnings for 366,640 employees of New York State school districts outside New York City was posted today at SeeThroughNY.net, the transparency website sponsored by the Empire Center for Public Policy.

The newly updated database includes pay for teachers, administrators and others, as reported for the 12 month-period ending June 30, 2012 to the New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS). It also includes pay for other school employees, such as custodians, aides and bus drivers, for the 12 month-period ending March 31, 2012, as reported to the New York State Employees Retirement System (NYSLERS).

Long Island schools had the highest average pay by region at $73,949. The Mohawk Valley has the lowest average pay at $36,394. A chart of average pay by region is attached. The chart also shows the trend in average pay over the last four fiscal years. Seven regions average pay increased over the four-year period while only the Capital Region and Mohawk Valley have decreased average pay over that period, which includes the worst period of the recession.

For the third consecutive year, Scarsdale School District had the highest average educator pay at $115,659. Scarsdale was followed by Bronxville, Jericho and Byram Hills, all of which reported average educator salaries above $100,000. The averages in many cases are depressed by the inclusion on the list of numerous substitute teachers and part-timers whose reported salaries came to only a few thousand dollars per year. A list of the 50 highest paid districts is attached.

According to the data, the highest paid school employee was Dr. William Johnson, superintendent of the Rockville Centre Union Free School District, who was paid $567,248. According to recent news reports, that sum includes access to a lump sum “bonus.” A list of the 100 highest-paid school employees in districts outside New York City is attached. (New York City school salaries will be updated shortly.)

SeeThroughNY allows the public to examine government expenditures on the Internet. In addition to salary data for school districts, it includes payrolls for New York State and New York City government, counties, municipalities and public authorities throughout the state. Also posted are public employee pension data, state legislator office expenditures, pork barrel “member item” spending, and a benchmarking feature for comparing local government and school district spending.