The Texas State Auditor’s Office recently published a report highlighting the state’s 40 highest-paid management employees. The analysis used data from June 2024 and did not include judges, public universities, elected officials, or self-directed/semi-independent agencies. The report excluded these categories based on the state’s 2023 budget law.
The top-paid employee in Texas is Dr. Michelle M. Le Beau, the Chief Scientific Officer at the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute, earning $639,300 annually. Following her is Steven McCraw, the Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, with a yearly base pay of $345,250. Marc Williams, the Executive Director of the Texas Department of Transportation, comes in third, making $344,000 per year. The fourth-highest-paid executive is in charge of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, earning an annual base pay of $325,000.
The Texas Department of Transportation dominated the list with 11 spots, and TxDOT’s top employees had a combined salary of $3,426,802. The Health and Human Services Commission followed closely behind, with its highest earners making a total of $2,379,548.
The report recommends creating a new pay group for executive state employees, capping at $390,908. This change would include the DPS director and TxDOT executive director. The report suggests that salary ranges for executive positions have not been adjusted since fiscal year 2016 and may need to be updated to provide competitive compensation.
Overall, 27.5% of the top 40 highest-paid state employees in Texas hold executive officer positions. The report emphasizes the importance of offering competitive compensation to retain top talent in state agencies. Additional steps may be necessary to address pay compression and ensure that executive officers are fairly compensated.
