What is the top paid public job in your state?

Top Public Salary in Each State by job type

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DEADSPIN

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

1. According to the visual above, overall, what type of job was the best paid public job the U.S.?

2. According to the visual above, what type of job was the best paid public job in your state?

3. According to the visual below* how much was the very best paid public servant paid last year?

4. In most cases, the top paid public servant doesn’t just get paid a little more than the governor. For example, the four CFP coaches earned a total of $24.2M which is about four times what all 50 governors earned ($6.9M). But governor’s can fire coaches and coaches can’t fire governors, so what actually gives a job power? Is it all about the salary or are there other factors that empower jobs?

5. What is a consequence of coaches earning dramatically more than governors?

6. What is the difference between a public and a private job?

7. In your opinion, what is the most important public job in your state?

8. Why do you think we pay sports coaches so much more than we pay firefighters, teachers, police chiefs, or even governors?

9. What do you think is the worst paid type of job in your state (see below)*?

10. Only two of the highest paid public employees in America are women. Why do you think that is?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Contact your governor and taunt them for not being the highest paid public employee in their state.

Learning Extension*

Read the list of the name, position, and salary of the best paid public employee in each state.

Top Paid Public Servants in the U.S.

Data from 2019 football season