Comparing the Las Cruces superintendent’s salary with others

Following the approval last night of Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Sonia Diaz’s contract, I thought it might be interesting to compare her salary with others.

Let me preface by saying Diaz is not being paid too much. Some in this community will think that, but I believe you get what you pay for, and New Mexico hasn’t traditionally spent enough on education.

Diaz will be paid a base salary of $160,000 annually, plus benefits. Las Cruces is the second largest school district in the state, with about 24,000 students.

Here are some other salaries:

• Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Everitt is paid an annual base salary of $175,000, according to the Albuquerque Journal. There are about 90,000 students in the largest school district in the state.

• The Gallup-McKinley County School District pays its superintendent, Karen White, $128,000 per year, according to the Journal. With 13,000 students, it’s the sixth-largest district in the state.

• The superintendent of the El Paso Independent School District makes an annual base salary of $215,000.

• New Mexico State University President Michael Martin was paid $281,187.50 this year.

• Gov. Bill Richardson’s salary is $110,000 this year.

• U.S. senators and representatives make an annual salary of $158,100.

• District Attorney Susana Martinez is paid an annual salary of $96,711.

• Las Cruces City Manager Terrence Moore is paid an annual salary of $120,000.