How the salaries of Delaware department heads stack up against state workers
Scott GossThe heads of various state agencies, departments and branches of government are often thought of as having a major influence over large sectors of public and private life.
But some are not even the highest-paid person in their own organization, according to salary data provided by the Delaware Office of Management and Budget.
Senate President David McBride, D-New Castle Area, and House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, for example, oversee the state's legislative branch.
But their combined salaries do not equal the $151,088 base salary of Controller General Michael Morton, whose main job is to provide lawmakers with insight into the state budget.
SEE WHAT THEY MAKE
11 Delaware state employees earn a salary over $200,000
Six Delaware legislators earn two state paychecks
Delaware Lieutenant Gov. Bethany Hall-Long also does not make as much as her chief of staff Keith Warren, while state Auditor Tom Wagner pulls down less than his chief administrative auditor Stacey Powell.
That does not necessarily mean the head honchos of those government bodies are underpaid. Gov. John Carney and every member of his cabinet earn significantly more than the average workers in their respective agencies.
Delaware Technical Community College President Mark Brainard's state-leading base salary is almost four times the pay of the average worker at the college.
Correction Secretary Perry Phelps makes more than three times the average pay of his workers, while Education Secretary Susan Bunting pulls down nearly twice as much as the average worker in her department, which has the highest mean salary in the state.
The following is a list of the base salary paid to various cabinet secretaries and agency heads compared to the average pay of the full-time workers they oversee. The highest salaried employee also is included if it exceeds the pay of their boss.
For comparison, the average salary for the 15,360 full-time state workers not employed by a public school district or charter schools is $50,333. The average salary for the state's top-ranking officials is $136,255.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Highest ranking: Senate President David McBride and House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf – $66,184 each
Highest salary: Michael Morton, controller general – $151,089
Average worker (including lawmakers) – $54,985
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Highest ranking: Supreme Court Chief Justice Leo Strine – $205,148
Average worker – $52,026
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Highest ranking: Secretary Dr. Susan Bunting – $164,582
Average worker: $83,716
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION
Highest ranking: Secretary James Collins – $164,055
Average worker: $77,623
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Highest ranking: Gov. John Carney – $171,000
Average worker: $71,837
DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND HOMELAND SECURITY
Highest ranking: Secretary Robert Coupe – $136,240
Highest salary: Dr. Gary Collins, chief medical examiner – $244,093
Average worker: $70,955
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Highest ranking: Secretary Saundra Johnson – $131,011
Average worker: $62,521
NATIONAL GUARD
Highest ranking: Adjutant Gen. Carol Timmons – $124,156
Average worker: $54,234
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
Highest ranking: Secretary Rick Geisenberger – $151,088
Average worker: $50,517
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Highest ranking: Secretary Shawn Garvin – $131,011
Average worker: $50,381
OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET
Highest ranking: Director Mike Jackson – $151,088
Average worker: $49,607
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION
Highest ranking: Secretary Perry Phelps – $151,088
Highest paid: Medical Director Dr. Awele Maduka-Ezeh – $221,230
Average worker: $47,608
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Highest ranking: Secretary Michael Scuse – $122,333
Average worker: $46,408
DEPARTMENT OF SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTHAND THEIR FAMILIES
Highest ranking: Secretary Josette Manning – $136,240
Highest salary: Dr. Richar Margolis, Delaware Youth and Family Center psychiatrist – $236,751
Average worker: $44,555
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Highest ranking: Secretary Dr. Kara Odom Walker – $163,088
Highest salary: Dr. Clarence Watson, Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health medical director – $215,673
Average worker: $42,452
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Highest ranking: Secretary Jeffrey Bullock – $131,011
Average worker: $42,404
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Highest ranking: Secretary Cerron Cade – $122,333
Average worker: $42,309
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Highest ranking: Secretary Jennifer Cohen – $141,572
Average worker: $40,901
OTHER AGENCIES
OFFICE OF DEFENSE SERVICES
Highest ranking: Chief Defender Brendan O'Neill – $143,769
Average worker: $74,876
OFFICE OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Highest ranking: Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long – $81,239
Highest salary: Chief of Staff Keith Warren – $88,500
Average worker: $69,839
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Highest ranking: Attorney General Matt Denn – $148,893
Average worker: $69,130
OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER
Highest ranking: Treasurer Ken Simpler – $116,582
Average worker: $67,044
OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR
Highest ranking: Auditor of Accounts Tom Wagner – $111,667
Highest salary: Chief Administrative Auditor Stacey Powell – $123,005
Average worker: $65,833
DELAWARE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Highest ranking: President Mark Brainard – $245,000
Average worker: $61,322
OFFICE OF THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Highest ranking: Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro – $111,667
Highest salary: Tanisha Merced – $116,354
Average worker: $52,469
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTIONS
Highest ranking: Elections Commissioner Elaine Manlove – $91,173
Average worker: $47,335
EDITOR'S NOTE: The salary figures cited in this report include only base pay and not overtime, benefits, stipends, bonuses or other forms of compensation.
Contact reporter Scott Goss at (302) 324-2281, sgoss@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @ScottGossDel.