The Alabama State Board of Education is considering a $90,000 pay raise for State Superintendent Eric Mackey, a move that would increase his salary from $292,500 to $380,000. If approved, Mackey’s salary would exceed that of local superintendents and make him one of the highest-paid state superintendents in the country, though other Alabama education officials would still earn more.
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According to the Alabama Daily News, which obtained a copy of the proposed contract, the salary increase would place Mackey’s pay above Mobile County Superintendent Chresal Threadgil, who currently earns $365,261. However, Mackey’s salary would still fall below that of other Alabama education officials, including Jim Purcell, Executive Director of the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, who earned nearly $400,000 in 2024, and Jimmy Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, who is set to earn $554,100 in 2025.
AL.com reported that currently, the average superintendent salary in Alabama is $174,944, meaning Mackey’s proposed pay would more than double the state average.
Mackey has served as Alabama’s state superintendent since 2018, and the new contract would extend his term through 2029. His housing and vehicle allowances would remain unchanged, and his 3% annual raise would continue—a feature that has been part of his contract since he took office. His starting salary in 2018 was $245,000.
During a March 13 work session, at least three of the board’s eight members requested a delay in the vote, saying they needed more time to evaluate the contract. Board member Wayne Reynolds suggested postponing the decision until May, but Board Vice President Tonya Chestnut argued that 30 days should be enough to address any concerns.
“This is a significant event,” Reynolds said, clarifying that his request for a delay was not a reflection of Mackey’s job performance. New board members Kelly Mooney and Allen Long also expressed the need for additional time to review the proposed contract.
“We basically were looking at comparable salaries in the area, realizing that there were some local school superintendents that are making more than Dr. Mackey, and he’s responsible for overseeing all of them,” Board member Yvette Richardson said during the meeting.
Mackey received a 4.51 out of 5 on his latest performance evaluation, marking a four-year high. Supporters of the raise argue that under Mackey’s leadership, Alabama students have seen “unprecedented improvement,” as his attorney, Mark Boardman, stated.
As Alabama’s state superintendent, Mackey oversees 154 public K-12 school districts, which educate more than 750,000 students and employ over 100,000 people. His responsibilities include ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations, shaping education policy, monitoring school performance, and allocating state funding to local districts.
While Mackey’s proposed raise would significantly increase his pay, it would still leave him earning less than some top Alabama education officials and other high-ranking public employees, such as college and junior college presidents, athletes, and coaches.
Meanwhile, Alabama teachers and school administrators earn significantly less. In 2023, the average teacher salary in the state was $61,231, while the average principal salary was $108,596.
The board will need to formally approve the contract at a future meeting before any changes can take effect. If approved, the new contract would increase Mackey’s base salary by nearly 30% while maintaining his rolling three-year contract structure, in which his contract is extended by one year annually.
A final decision on Mackey’s pay is expected in the coming months.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
