Incoming Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner will be compensated $425,000 per year as part of a newly agreed-upon contract with the school board.
The contract establishes a base salary of $365,000 with the inclusion of $60,000 in tax sheltered annuity plan contributions. In comparison, former Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Brent Jones earned $390,940 in his final contract with the district right before he announced his intent to step down from the role at the end of last school year. Shuldiner’s salary is about 9% more than Jones’.
Fred Podesta is currently serving as the interim superintendent for the beginning of the 2025-26 school year with a salary of $320,355.
Shuldiner’s first day as superintendent will be on Feb. 1, 2026, with his contract running through June 2028, as limited by state law. He will be the fourth superintendent for Seattle Public Schools since 2014.
