The number of public school educators outside New York City receiving more than $300,000 in annual pay rose to 114 in the 2025-26 fiscal year, up from 90 a year earlier, according to a new Empire Center report.
The analysis released Nov. 10 covers teachers and administrators reported to the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System. Their combined payroll totaled $19.4 billion.
Another 2,328 employees received more than $200,000, compared with 2,005 the previous year. Average pay among employees the center classified as full-time reached $99,652, up from $97,506.
The figures represent gross earnings, which can include summer school, extra assignments and termination payments. They exclude health insurance and employer pension contributions.
Highest earnings concentrated downstate
Roslyn Superintendent Allison Feldman topped the statewide list at $436,976. Great Neck Superintendent Kenneth Bossert followed at $420,781, ahead of Oyster Bay-East Norwich Superintendent Francesco Ianni at $412,663.
Long Island accounted for 75 of the 114 employees paid more than $300,000, according to the center’s regional findings.
The region’s average full-time educator pay was $121,047. Its median superintendent pay reached $302,277, and 89 superintendents received more than the governor’s $250,000 salary.
Long Island districts spent $14,766 per student on educator pay, compared with $12,345 statewide. Those figures cover educator earnings rather than total school spending.
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What the numbers measure
Statewide, the median pay for a superintendent who served the full year was $215,922. A total of 174 superintendents received more than $250,000.
The report’s full-time estimates require caution. Because the records do not identify employment status, the center counted employees paid more than $32,240 as full-time. Some part-time or partial-year employees therefore qualify, potentially lowering the reported averages.
Readers can search individual earnings in the SeeThroughNY payroll database. Its broader school payroll listings also include nonteaching employees outside the educator group analyzed in the report.
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