ATLANTA — Out of the top 15 highest-paid employees of the state of Georgia, only one-third aren’t involved in college sports.
That’s based on numbers from the 2024 fiscal year data provided and published by Georgia’s Open Government program, part of the state Auditor’s Office.
Only 15 people working for the state of Georgia’s universities, agencies and regulatory boards earn more than $1 million for their base salaries but 10 are coaches or athletics officials working within the University System of Georgia.
Seven of them work for the University of Georgia.
By just over $8.6 million, UGA Head Football Coach Kirby Smart is the highest-paid employee in the state, when it comes to publicly funded salaries.
Of the thousands of state employees, 186 earn more than $450,000 per year before taxes.
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Taking a broader view of state salaries in Georgia for public employees, that means there are nearly 200 state employees earning more than the technical salary and yearly expense allowance of the President of the United States, which is a split of $400,000 salary and $50,000 allowance.
The listed salary for Gov. Brian Kemp is $181,999.
That means the governor’s salary is equal to roughly 40.4% of the POTUS salary and roughly 1.49% of what Coach Smart earns per year.
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Here’s a look at the top 15 in 2024:
- UGA Head Football Coach Kirby Smart - $12.2 million
- UGA Head Basketball Coach Michael White - $3.58 million
- Georgia Tech Head Football Coach Brent Key - $2.96 million
- UGA Defensive Coordinator Glenn Schumann - $2.12 million
- Georgia Tech Head Basketball Coach Damon Stoudamire - $2.11 million
- Georgia Ports Authority President and CEO Griff Lynch - $1.39 million and $75,295 for travel
- UGA Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo - $1.32 million
- Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery in the Department of Surgery Section Chief at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University Dr. James St. Louis - $1.25 million and $31,699 for travel
- Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera - $1.23 million and $18,667 for travel
- UGA Defensive Line Coach Travion Scott - $1.22 million
- Section Chief Professor, Academic Appointment(s) Medical College of Georgia, Department of Surgery: Cardiothoracic Dr. Richard Lee - $1.21 million and $2,600 for travel
- UGA Chief Athletics Administrator Joshua Brooks - $1.14 million
- Teachers Retirement System of Georgia Chief Investment Officer Charles Cary - $1.06 million
- Department Chair, Professor, Medical College of Georgia, Dept, of Neurosurgery Dr. Fernando Vale Diaz - $1 million and $546 for travel
- UGA Head Women’s Basketball Coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson - $1 million
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