Athletic coaches dominate the list of the University’s highest paid employees with nine of the 10 highest budgeted salaries.
In addition to football coach Ed Orgeron’s $500,000 salary, six other assistant football coaches make over $400,000 according to the 2018-2019 University Salary Budget.
Other notable budgeted salaries for athletic personnel include basketball coach Will Wade and gymnastics coach D-D Breaux, who both make $400,000. Breaux is the University’s highest paid female employee.
Figures for athletic coaches are incomplete as they do not account for portions of salaries paid through private foundations, grants and other means. Despite incomplete total salary figures, athletic coaches still remain among the University’s most expensive employees. The provided information shows the amount paid directly by the University.
The University increased its faculty raise pool by 3 percent for the second consecutive year in August. The 3 percent increase is an average for University faculty and staff. The actual merit raise amount varies by individual performance reviews and total career output. Staff and faculty previously received raise pool increases of 4 percent in 2013 and 3 percent in 2014.
The University’s full-time instructional faculty earn an average salary of $85,021, which is below the national benchmark of $95,521, according to a 2016 Southern Regional Education Board study.
The LSU Board of Supervisors voted on Oct. 4 to extend Alexander’s contract for an additional five years and increase his salary by 3 percent. This was Alexander’s first raise since becoming University president in 2013. Alexander’s salary will increase from $600,000 to $618,000, which remains the University’s highest budgeted salary.
Other administrators receiving noteworthy raises include Vice President for Finance and Administration Dan Layzell and Vice President for Enrollment Management Jose Aviles. Layzell’s salary increased from $325,000 to $340,000. In just his second year controlling University admissions, Aviles received a raise from $230,000 to $250,000.
Paul M. Herbert Law Center Dean Thomas Galligan earns the highest salary among University deans, at $350,200. For undergraduate schools, E.J. Ourso College of Business Dean Richard White and College of Engineering Dean Judy Wornat lead the way with salaries of $344,535 and $309,000, respectively.
According to the University’s 2018-19 Salary Budget, 19 percent of faculty members collect salaries over $100,000, up 4 percent since 2013. More than 2 percent make over $200,000. Of the 85 faculty members earning over $200,000, 32 percent are athletic department personnel.
LSU Foundation James C. Bolton Distinguished Professor of Chemistry Kevin Smith is the University’s highest-paid instructional faculty member with a salary of $271,179, followed by Ourso Family Distinguished Professor of Information Systems Rudolf Hirschheim, with a salary of $264,863.
Biology Professor Mark Batzer holds the third highest salary of $263,964 followed by Physics and Astronomy Professor Earl Plummer who earns $262,245. The fifth highest paid employee is law professor P. Raymond Lamonica with a salary of $254,167.
The University’s highest paid female instructional faculty member is Boyd Professor of Mathematics Susanne Brenner with a salary of $206,729.
The University’s 2018-19 Salary Budget can be accessed in the Hill Memorial Library.