Can You Guess Iowa’s Highest Paid State Employees?

When we see the phrase 'state employee' we naturally think of our leaders in the state of Iowa. Positions like governor, secretary of state, and other forms of government. And while leaders like Governor Kim Reynolds are indeed paid by the state, they are nowhere close to being the highest-paid state employees. That honor, once again, goes to people working in a completely different field.

As the Des Moines Register points out, the salaries of government and state employees are public knowledge. Anyone can look up and request the information that is about to be presented here. The Register reports that the definition of a government employee is broad. Over 55,000 people are listed in the 2023 fiscal year database which is the most recent date available. But the names at the top prove that like many states, nothing is bigger than college sports.

Once again, the highest-paid state employee is Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz. Last year Ferentz earned just over $7 million. The Register points out that is more than twice as much as the next highest-paid state employee! Ferentz is the dean of college football coaches and who can blame him for wanting to coach making this kind of money?

Another Hawkeye comes in at #2 on the highest state salary list. Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery took home $3.1 million last year, according to the Register.

Finally...a Cyclone. The Register reports that Iowa State head football coach Matt Campbell was the third-highest-earning state employee last year making $2.7 million.

If you're offended at coaches being the top earners, get ready for more. Six of the seven highest-earning employees in Iowa coach collegiate sports. Here are the other high earners.

• #4 - Phil Parker - Defensive coordinator for Iowa Football - $1.7 million
• #6 - TJ Otzelberger - Head coach for Iowa State men's basketball - $1.5 million
• #7 - Lisa Bluder - former head coach for Iowa women's basketball - $1.4 million

But the top of the list isn't all about sports. The Register reports that the field of medicine is also well-represented. Several doctors from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and medical professors at Iowa also earn more than $1 million per year. So what about positions like Governor Kim Reynolds? She earned $135,000 in 2023. She isn't even the highest-paid 'Reynolds' in the state! You can view and search state salaries HERE.

Get our free mobile app