DATA: See which teachers, superintendents were paid the most across the Greater Houston area in 2025-26

Editor's note: This story has been changed to correctly list the public school districts with the highest student enrollment.

In the 2025-26 school year, Cy-Fair and Klein ISDs had the highest-paid superintendents, while Lamar CISD and New Caney ISD had the highest-paid teachers, on average, according to Texas Education Agency data released in mid-March.

The big picture

Community Impact analyzed data from the TEA to learn about compensation for superintendents, teachers and staff at public school districts for the 2025-26 school year.

According to the TEA data released March 16, the Greater Houston-area school districts with the highest-earning superintendents for the 2025-26 school year are:

• Cy-Fair ISD Superintendent Wayne Killian with $520,231 in total pay
• Klein ISD Superintendent Jenny McGown with $508,554 in total pay
• Katy ISD Superintendent Kenneth Gregorski with $474,440 in total pay
• Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles with $462,000 in total pay
• Conroe ISD Superintendent David Vinson with $454,589 in total pay

• Splendora ISD Superintendent Dustin Bromley with $252,981 in total pay
• Friendswood ISD Superintendent Thad Rower with $254,500 in total pay
• Montgomery ISD Superintendent Mark Ruffin with $273,520 in total pay
• Spring ISD Superintendent Kregg Cuellar with $276,171 in total pay
• Willis ISD Superintendent Kimberley James with $284,583 in total pay

Four out of five of the highest-paid superintendents were employed by school districts for Region 4, which covers much of the central Greater Houston area.

According to the TEA data released March 19, the Greater Houston-area school districts with the highest average teacher base pay for the 2025-26 school year are:

• Lamar CISD with $76,225
• New Caney ISD with $75,125
• Deer Park ISD with $74,343
• Galena Park ISD with $74,000
• Houston ISD with $73,934

• Bryan ISD with $59,776
• College Station ISD with $61,116
• Magnolia ISD with $64,571
• Willis ISD with $65,183
• Alief ISD with $66,762

Community Impact also analyzed data on pay for support staff—which includes librarians, counselors, school nurses and transportation employees—and paraprofessionals, which include teachers’ aides, certified interpreters and teacher residents.

According to the TEA data, the Greater Houston-area school districts with the highest average base pay for support staff in the 2025-26 school year are:

• Pasadena ISD with $91,531
• Alvin ISD with $87,146
• Channelview ISD with $86,814

• College Station ISD with $72,810
• Friendswood ISD with $75,353
• Bryan ISD with $76,374

• Houston ISD with $32,502
• Lamar CISD with $28,108
• Fort Bend ISD with $27,240

• Willis ISD with $20,054
• La Porte ISD with $21,791
• Bryan ISD with $21,868