The highest-paid public employee in each state isn't a judge, senator, or governor - it's a college football or basketball coach

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The highest-paid public employee in each state isn't a judge, senator, or governor - it's a college football or basketball coach

Nick Saban Alabama Smile

Christian Petersen/Getty

Football coach Nick Saban makes more money than any other public employee in Alabama.

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  • The highest-paid public employee in most states is a college football or basketball coach, according to a new report from ESPN.
  • The University of Kentucky's John Calipari is the highest-paid basketball coach - but his salary pales in comparison to football coaches for public colleges.
  • The salaries for the highest-paid public worker in every state range from $246,000 to $11 million.

The highest-paid public employee in your state is probably a college football or basketball coach.

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ESPN recently published a report on the highest-paid public employee, which is someone paid by a state, county, or city institution. College athletic coaches dominated the list, often earning many times the salary of the state governor, probably the highest-profile public job.

Eight basketball coaches and 31 football coaches made the list, representing 39 out of 50 states.

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Anyone who is not paid by the state - like coaches for private colleges - were excluded from the list, since salary data for a private employee is hard to come by. That means Duke basketball coach Mike "Coach K" Krzyzewski and Stanford football coach David Shaw - the highest-earning college coaches in North Carolina and California, respectively - don't appear on ESPN's list.

The salaries for the highest-paid public worker in every state range from $246,000 - more than $50,000 above the highest salary for any governor - to $11 million. ESPN points out that nine of the coaches who were the highest-paid in their state in 2017 no longer hold the same job.

Of the 11 non-coaches who were the highest-paid public employee in their state, eight work in education and two are physician (several work at medical schools). Only one woman made the list: Mary D. Nettleman, a medical school dean.

See who the highest-paid public employee of 2017 was in your state and how much they made. For comparison, we included the governor's salary and the median household income in each state via ESPN.

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DELAWARE: Mark Holodick, $246,000 salary in 2017

DELAWARE: Mark Holodick, $246,000 salary in 2017

Job: Brandywine School District superintendent

Governor salary: $171,000

Median household income: $61,017

MAINE: James H. Page, $277,500 salary in 2017

MAINE: James H. Page, $277,500 salary in 2017

Job: Chancellor of University of Maine system

Governor salary: $70,000

Median household income: $50,826

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MONTANA: Clay Christian, $309,000 salary in 2017

MONTANA: Clay Christian, $309,000 salary in 2017

Job: Higher Education Commissioner

Governor salary: $108,167

Median household income: $48,380

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Mark W. Huddleston, $492,000 salary in 2017

NEW HAMPSHIRE: Mark W. Huddleston, $492,000 salary in 2017

Job: President of University of New Hampshire

Governor salary: $110,834

Median household income: $68,845

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ALASKA: Keith Meyer, $550,000 salary in 2017

ALASKA: Keith Meyer, $550,000 salary in 2017

Job: President of Alaska Pipeline Development Corp.

Governor salary: $145,000

Median household income: $74,444

VERMONT: Frederick C. Morin III, $559,600 salary in 2017

VERMONT: Frederick C. Morin III, $559,600 salary in 2017

Job: Dean of University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine

Governor salary: $160,135

Median household income: $56,104

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SOUTH DAKOTA: Mary D. Nettleman, $577,700 salary in 2017

SOUTH DAKOTA: Mary D. Nettleman, $577,700 salary in 2017

Job: Dean, South Dakota School, Sanford School of Medicine

Governor salary: $112,214

Median household income: $52,078

NEW YORK: Lewis Pasternak, $673,600 salary in 2017

NEW YORK: Lewis Pasternak, $673,600 salary in 2017

Job: Anesthesiologist, Stony Brook University Hospital

Governor salary: $170,050

Median household income: $60,741

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NORTH DAKOTA: Joshua Wynne, $674,600 salary in 2017

NORTH DAKOTA: Joshua Wynne, $674,600 salary in 2017

Job: Dean, North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Governor salary: $129,096

Median household income: $59,114

HAWAII: David J. Engle, $786,000 salary in 2017

HAWAII: David J. Engle, $786,000 salary in 2017

Job: Neurosurgeon, Maui Memorial Medical Center

Governor salary: $149,556

Median household income: $71,977

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NEW MEXICO: Bob Davie, $822,960 salary in 2017

NEW MEXICO: Bob Davie, $822,960 salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of New Mexico

Governor salary: $110,000

Median household income: $45,674

RHODE ISLAND: Dan Hurley, $950,000 salary in 2017

RHODE ISLAND: Dan Hurley, $950,000 salary in 2017

Job: Basketball coach, University of Rhode Island

Governor salary: $132,710

Median household income: $58,387

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MASSACHUSETTS: Michael Collins, $1 million salary in 2017

MASSACHUSETTS: Michael Collins, $1 million salary in 2017

Job: Chancellor and SVP, Health Sciences at UMass System

Governor salary: $151,800

Median household income: $70,954

NEVADA: Eric Musselman, $1 million salary in 2017

NEVADA: Eric Musselman, $1 million salary in 2017

Job: Basketball coach, University of Nevada at Reno

Governor salary: $149,730

Median household income: $53,094

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WYOMING: Craig Bohl, $1.4 million salary

WYOMING: Craig Bohl, $1.4 million salary

Job: Football coach, University of Wyoming

Governor salary: $105,000

Median household income: $59,143

IDAHO: Bryan Harsin, $1.6 million salary in 2017

IDAHO: Bryan Harsin, $1.6 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, Boise State

Governor salary: $124,436

Median household income: $49,174

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NEW JERSEY: Chris Ash, $2.1 million salary in 2017

NEW JERSEY: Chris Ash, $2.1 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, Rutgers University

Governor salary: $175,000

Median household income: $73,702

NORTH CAROLINA: Larry Fedora, $2.3 million salary in 2017

NORTH CAROLINA: Larry Fedora, $2.3 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Governor salary: $142,265

Median household income: $48,256

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MISSOURI: Barry Odom, $2.4 million salary in 2017

MISSOURI: Barry Odom, $2.4 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Missouri

Governor salary: $133,821

Median household income: $49,593

MARYLAND: Mark Turgeon, $2.6 million salary in 2017

MARYLAND: Mark Turgeon, $2.6 million salary in 2017

Job: Basketball coach, University of Maryland

Governor salary: $150,000

Median household income: $76,067

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COLORADO: Mike MacIntyre, $2.8 million salary in 2017

COLORADO: Mike MacIntyre, $2.8 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Colorado at Boulder

Governor salary: $90,000

Median household income: $62,520

NEBRASKA: Mike Riley, $2.9 million salary in 2017

NEBRASKA: Mike Riley, $2.9 million salary in 2017

Job: Former football coach, University of Nebraska at Lincoln

Governor salary: $105,000

Median household income: $54,384

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OREGON: Willie Taggart, $2.9 million salary in 2017

OREGON: Willie Taggart, $2.9 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Oregon

Governor salary: $98,600

Median household income: $53,270

ILLINOIS: Lovie Smith, $3 million salary in 2017

ILLINOIS: Lovie Smith, $3 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Illinois

Governor salary: $177,412

Median household income: $59,196

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CONNECTICUT: Kevin Ollie, $3.2 million salary in 2017

CONNECTICUT: Kevin Ollie, $3.2 million salary in 2017

Job: Basketball coach, University of Connecticut

Governor salary: $150,000

Median household income: $71,755

WISCONSIN: Paul Chryst, $3.2 million salary in 2017

WISCONSIN: Paul Chryst, $3.2 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Wisconsin at Madison

Governor salary: $147,328

Median household income: $54,610

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INDIANA: Archie Miller, $3.2 million salary in 2017

INDIANA: Archie Miller, $3.2 million salary in 2017

Job: Basketball coach, Indiana University

Governor salary: $111,688

Median household income: $50,433

VIRGINIA: Bronco Mendenhall, $3.4 million salary in 2017

VIRGINIA: Bronco Mendenhall, $3.4 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Virginia

Governor salary: $175,000

Median household income: $66,149

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MINNESOTA: PJ Fleck, $3.5 million salary in 2017

MINNESOTA: PJ Fleck, $3.5 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Minnesota

Governor salary: $123,427

Median household income: $63,217

LOUISIANA: Ed Orgeron, $3.5 million salary in 2017

LOUISIANA: Ed Orgeron, $3.5 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, LSU

Governor salary: $130,000

Median household income: $45,652

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WEST VIRGINIA: Bob Huggins, $3.6 million salary in 2017

WEST VIRGINIA: Bob Huggins, $3.6 million salary in 2017

Job: Basketball coach, West Virginia

Governor salary: $150,000

Median household income: $42,644

CALIFORNIA: Jim Mora, $3.6 million salary in 2017

CALIFORNIA: Jim Mora, $3.6 million salary in 2017

Job: Former football coach, UCLA

Governor salary: $177,467

Median household income: $63,783

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UTAH: Kyle Wittingham, $3.7 million salary in 2017

UTAH: Kyle Wittingham, $3.7 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Utah

Governor salary: $109,470

Median household income: $62,518

GEORGIA: Kirby Smart, $3.8 million salary in 2017

GEORGIA: Kirby Smart, $3.8 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Georgia

Governor salary: $139,339

Median household income: $51,073

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TENNESSEE: Butch Jones, $4.1 million salary in 2017

TENNESSEE: Butch Jones, $4.1 million salary in 2017

Job: Former football coach, University of Tennessee

Governor salary: $187,500

Median household income: $46,574

WASHINGTON: Chris Petersen, $4.1 million salary in 2017

WASHINGTON: Chris Petersen, $4.1 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Washington

Governor salary: $166,891

Median household income: $62,848

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ARKANSAS: Bret Bielema, $4.2 million salary in 2017

ARKANSAS: Bret Bielema, $4.2 million salary in 2017

Job: Former football coach, University of Arkansas

Governor salary: $141,000

Median household income: $42,336

OKLAHOMA: Mike Gundy, $4.2 million salary in 2017

OKLAHOMA: Mike Gundy, $4.2 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, Oklahoma State

Governor salary: $147,000

Median household income: $48,038

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MISSISSIPPI: Dan Mullen, $4.5 million salary in 2017

MISSISSIPPI: Dan Mullen, $4.5 million salary in 2017

Job: Former football coach, Mississippi State

Governor salary: $122,160

Median household income: $40,528

IOWA: Kirk Ferentz, $4.6 million salary in 2017

IOWA: Kirk Ferentz, $4.6 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Iowa

Governor salary: $130,000

Median household income: $54,570

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PENNSYLVANIA: James Franklin, $4.6 million salary in 2017

PENNSYLVANIA: James Franklin, $4.6 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, Penn State

Governor salary: $190,823

Median household income: $54,895

KANSAS: Bill Self, $4.8 million salary in 2017

KANSAS: Bill Self, $4.8 million salary in 2017

Job: Basketball coach, University of Kansas

Governor salary: $99,636

Median household income: $53,571

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TEXAS: Tom Herman, $5.5 million salary in 2017

TEXAS: Tom Herman, $5.5 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, The University of Texas at Austin

Governor salary: $150,000

Median household income: $54,727

ARIZONA: Rich Rodriguez, $5.6 million salary in 2017

ARIZONA: Rich Rodriguez, $5.6 million salary in 2017

Job: Former football coach, University of Arizona

Governor salary: $95,000

Median household income: $51,340

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FLORIDA: Jimbo Fisher, $5.7 million salary in 2017

FLORIDA: Jimbo Fisher, $5.7 million salary in 2017

Job: Former football coach, Florida State University

Governor salary: $130,273

Median household income: $48,900

OHIO: Urban Meyer, $6.4 million salary in 2017

OHIO: Urban Meyer, $6.4 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, Ohio State

Governor salary: $148,886

Median household income: $50,674

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MICHIGAN: Jim Harbaugh, $7 million salary in 2017

MICHIGAN: Jim Harbaugh, $7 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Michigan

Governor salary: $159,300

Median household income: $50,803

KENTUCKY: John Calipari, $7.1 million salary in 2017

KENTUCKY: John Calipari, $7.1 million salary in 2017

Job: Basketball coach, University of Kentucky

Governor salary: $139,056

Median household income: $44,811

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SOUTH CAROLINA: Dabo Swinney, $8.5 million salary in 2017

SOUTH CAROLINA: Dabo Swinney, $8.5 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, Clemson University

Governor salary: $106,078

Median household income: $46,898

ALABAMA: Nick Saban, $11.1 million salary in 2017

ALABAMA: Nick Saban, $11.1 million salary in 2017

Job: Football coach, University of Alabama

Governor salary: $119,950

Median household income: $44,758

See the full report on ESPN »
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