A Chicago Tribune analysis highlights the inconsistency of superintendent salaries across Illinois and shows why school districts need consolidation.
According to 2024 salary data, the top 10 highest-paid superintendents received total compensation topping $4.2 million.
Rich Township High School District 227’s superintendent received $423,000 – the fourth highest compensated superintendent in 2024. Overseeing one school in Olympia Fields, Illinois, of about 2,300 students, 10% of students were proficient in reading and less than 4% of students were proficient in math.
Adlai E. Stevenson High School District 125 is a single school in Lincolnshire, Illinois, with over 4,500 students. Over 70% of students are proficient in both reading and math. The superintendent earned $387,000 in 2024 for the ninth-highest superintendent compensation in Illinois.
