An Analysis of Albany City School District’s Personnel Costs
333 District Employees Receiving More Than $100,000 in Compensation
Policy Points Memorandum
May 12, 2011
(pdf)
By B. Jason Brooks
An analysis of 2010-11 personnel costs data for the Albany City School District reveals that a shocking 333 employees (24 percent) of the total 1,404 total district employees are receiving a total compensation (salary, health insurance and other benefits, and retirement contributions) of more than $100,000. Even excluding the district’s contributions to employees’ retirement plans, 223 employees (16 percent) still receive salaries and benefits totaling more than $100,000 a year.
The average total compensation for school district employees is $75,031 ($60,518 salary; $8,786 in benefits; $5,727 in retirement contributions).
Employees Receiving More Than $100,000 in Compensation
It is not only administrators and principals that rank among the highest paid individuals in the Albany City School District. Several non-administrative employees receive more than $100,000 in total compensation, including 96 elementary school teachers, 52 special education teachers, 25 physical education teachers, 10 speech therapists, 8 music teachers, and 2 health teachers, among others.
ALBANY CSD EMPLOYEES RECEIVING
MORE THAN $100,000 IN COMPENSATION
# of Employees & Position / Title
Administrators
19 Principals
7 Assistant Principals
4 Assistant Superintendents
3 Directors
2 Assistant Director
1 Superintendent
Other Employees
6 Instructional Supervisors
6 School Psychologists
4 Social Workers
2 Attendance Teachers
2 Guidance Counselor
2 Librarians
1 Building and Grounds Supervisor
1 Chief Information Officer
1 Food Preparation Staff Member
1 Grants Administrator
1 Public Information Officer
1 Technology Coordinator
1 Transportation Supervisor
Core-Subject Teachers
96 Elementary School Teachers
10 Reading Teachers
10 Social Studies Teachers
9 Math Teachers
9 Science Teachers
4 English Teachers
Non-Core Subject Teachers & Instructional Staff
52 Special Education Teachers
25 Phys. Ed Teachers
10 Foreign Language Teachers
10 Speech Therapists
10 Art Teachers
8 Music Teachers
5 Technology Teachers
4 Family & Consumer Sci. Teachers
2 English as a Second Lang. Teachers
2 Health Teachers
1 Albany Correctional Facility Teachers
1 Auto Body Teacher
1 Business Education Teacher
For some positions in the district, the average total compensation is surprisingly high: the district’s 36 physical education teachers average nearly $105,000, 3 “attendance teachers” average nearly $102,000, the district’s auto body teacher receives more than $113,000, and a “food preparation” staff member receives more than $117,000, for example.
The compensation for the district’s 8 home-ec teachers and 19 art teachers average more than $95,000.
SURPRISINGLY HIGH AVERAGE COMPENSATION
FOR ALBANY CSD STAFF POSITIONS
Total Comp. & Position / Title
$117,249 Food Preparation
$113,033 Auto Body Teacher
$104,872 Physical Education Teachers
$101,892 Attendance Teachers
$98,167 Family & Consumer Sci. Teachers
$95,559 Art Teachers
$94,756 Foreign Language Teachers
$93,230 Elementary Education Teachers
$91,988 Music Teachers
$90,101 Drama Instructors
$90,035 Health Instructors
$88,134 Librarians
$88,127 Social Workers
$83,163 Guidance Counselors
$82,884 Supervising Custodians
$69,056 Educational TV Specialist
$68,725 Fire Alarm Technician
$68,490 Dist. Off. Admin. Assistant
$67,050 Painter
$66,960 Turf Manager
$50,389 Typists
$49,121 Cleaners
$44,101 Hall Monitors
Expenses Add Up
Some additional noteworthy staffing cost subtotals in the Albany City School District include:
- $8.0 million for 198 Teachers Aides and Teachers Assistants
- $4.8 million for 90 Cleaners, Custodians and Maintenance Workers
- $3.5 million for 70 Typists
- $2.9 million for 65 Hall Monitors
- $1.2 million for 16 Home School Coordinators
- $398,720 for 5 Cooks and 6 Cook Managers
- $356,764 for 4 Albany County Correctional Facilities Teachers
- $53,574 for 2 Locker Room Attendants
Detailed tables of salaries, benefits and retirement compensation include the following:
Compensation of Individual Albany City School District Employees Ranked by Total Compensation
B. Jason Brooks is Director of Research at the Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability.
The Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability is an independent, nonprofit, research organization dedicated to improving education in New York State by promoting accountability, stimulating innovation, and supporting school-choice efforts across the state.
