ISD Superintendent Compensation

[Shadowninja]

Dearest reader,

You asked for apples to apples.

After Lady B posted about ISD superintendent compensation, one request kept appearing in the comments and inbox:

"What do the other ISD superintendents make?"

Fair question.

So the ledger went statewide. 🪶

These five graphics cover Michigan's ISDs/RESAs, divided geographically simply so the information can actually be read without requiring a magnifying glass and a prayer.

But PLEASE read this part before running off with the numbers:

These are NOT 2026 salaries.

The superintendent names come from Michigan's Educational Entity Master (EEM), maintained by the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information.

Lady B then searched those individuals in OpenTheBooks and used the reported 2025 wage ONLY when the person could be matched to the corresponding ISD/RESA.

If that match could not be made, the graphic says:

NO MATCH.

Lady B did not substitute another employee.
Lady B did not guess.
Lady B did not grab a number from somewhere else just to fill the box.

And perhaps most importantly:

"2025 wages" does not necessarily mean "current annual salary."

A reported wage figure can reflect what was actually reported for that individual during 2025. Employment changes, partial-year service, payouts, timing, and other circumstances can affect what appears in payroll data.

So please do not take one of these graphics and say:

"This is what every superintendent makes in 2026."

That is NOT what this dataset says.

What it DOES give us is a statewide, consistently assembled look at reported 2025 wages for the people identified through Michigan EEM as ISD/RESA superintendents, where a corresponding OpenTheBooks record could be matched.

No cherry-picking one ISD.

No comparing a superintendent to the President, a judge, a governor, or your cousin Larry.

Just ISD to ISD.

Apples to apples. 🍎

And where the receipt wasn't there?

Lady B left the box alone.

With receipts and respect. 🪶

#LadyBudgetdown #MichiganSchools #MichiganEducation #SchoolFinance #PublicRecords #PublicPayroll #GovernmentTransparency #ISD #RESA #EducationSpending #FollowTheMoney #WithReceiptsAndRespect