Top paid administrators come from the largest districts; see this year’s list

Emma Epperly | 11/10/2025

The average superintendent salary in Idaho increased less than $1,000 over last year, while three school districts continue to pay their leaders over $200,000, according to new data analyzed by EdNews.

The list of superintendent salaries for the 2025-26 year was made available this month by the State Board of Education.

West Ada’s leader, Derek Bub, tops the list for a third year with an annual salary of $230,882, a more than $8,800 raise from the year before.

The top three positions remain the same as last year, with Boise School District’s Lisa Roberts making the second most in the state at $218,362, also about an $8,000 raise. Lake Pend Oreille’s Becky Meyer rounds out the top three with a salary of $209,139, a less than $1,000 raise.

The Boise School District again occupies three of the top 10 highest-paid administrator spots with the district’s two assistant superintendents making $188,407 a piece.

The average statewide superintendent/ assistant superintendent salary for the 2025-26 school year is $132,910, a slight increase from $132,340 last year.

For charter school administrators/ superintendents, there was also an increase from $105,035 last year to $106,444 this year. Charter leaders generally make less than traditional school district superintendents; however, they also typically oversee smaller budgets and fewer school buildings.

Not all of the administrators in the top 10 received a raise over the previous year. Scott Thomson, administrator at North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, has made the same $197,600 since at least the 2023-24 school year. Of the highest-paid charter leaders, four oversee online schools.

Here are the top 10 traditional public school administrator salaries, which do not include benefit compensation:

$230,882, Derek Bub, West Ada Superintendent
$218,362, Lisa Roberts, Boise Superintendent
$209,139, Becky Meyer, Lake Pend Oreille Superintendent
$198,450, James Foudy, Blaine County Superintendent
$188,407, Wendy Johnson, Boise Assistant Superintendent
$188,407, Nicholas Smith, Boise Assistant Superintendent
$185,101, Dena Naccarato, Post Falls Superintendent
$180,040, Scott Woolstenhulme, Bonneville Superintendent
$177,944, Norma French, Caldwell Superintendent
$176,127, Douglas Howell, Pocatello Superintendent

Here are the top 10 charter school administrator salaries, which do not include benefit compensation:

$197,600, Scott Thomson, North Idaho Stem Charter Academy Administrator
$190,962, Jason Bransford, Gem Prep: Online Superintendent
$157,860, Vickie Mccullough, Idaho Virtual Education Partners Administrator
$156,699, Dennis Wilson, Idaho Virtual High Superintendent
$149,350, Stephen Lambert, Treasure Valley Classical Academy Administrator
$148,243, Matt Strong, Elevate Academy Administrator
$144,940, Lauire Wolfe, Gem Prep Online Administrator
$140,590, Wendy Oldenkamp, Vision Charter Administrator
$140,464, Charles Kenna, The Kootenai Bridge Academy Administrator
$139,125, Vincent Kane, Idaho Novus Classical Academy Administrator

Here is a list of superintendent and assistant superintendent salaries.

View this document on Scribd

Here is a list of charter school administrator salaries.

View this document on Scribd

Idaho Education News data analyst Randy Schrader contributed to this report.

Emma Epperly

Emma came to us from The Spokesman Review. She graduated from Washington State University with a B.A. in journalism and heads up our North Idaho Bureau.