slides: Central MA’s Highest Paid State Employees and Pols

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Ashley Klann, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

GoLocal takes a look at MA's highest salaries in politics and elsewhere. How much are Central Mass Reps. and Senators making compared to university presidents and local judges? See how much the state is spending on positions in Central Mass.

Education and healthcare are major players when it comes to pulling big bucks into Central Mass from the state. And this is no different for the Bay State’s top paid state employee, who works in Worcester.

Universities Paying Big

Worcester County has its share of universities, including state-funded colleges that are shelling out six-figure salaries left and right, according to Massachusetts Open Checkbook’s payroll figures. The latest figures were posted in February 2013, showing previous year’s earnings and current salary payment for the current fiscal year.

The highest in the region came from Fitchburg State University President Robert Antonucci raked in $250,499 and a total of $254,491 in earnings.

Stephen Swartz, the school’s Assistant Vice President made $141,432, for $144,257 in total earnings, and many other of the school’s positions were in the same range. Associate Professor, Natalia Kourtonina, even out-paced the school’s Associate Vice President, bringing in $135,402 in previous year’s earnings.

Worcester State University’s President Barry Maloney saw salary of $203,784, a long shot from the university’s next-highest paid position, held by Stephanie Chalupka, the Associate Dean. She made $165,941 in earnings.

Quinsigamond Community College was no stranger to high salaries. President Gail Carberry made $182,530, just ahead of professor Brian Skirvin-Leclair, who landed a cool $179,249.

Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner gave the top spot a run for its money, however, as they paid $244,261 to their President, Daniel Asquino. Curiously, one of the school’s adjunct faculty members, Nola Sapienza was recorded making $157,831.

The Top in the State

Following this trend, the top paid state employees in the state all came from the University of Massachusetts. Michael Collins, Chancellor and Senior Vice President of Health Sciences at UMass Med School in Worcester earned the state’s top spot with $784,468 with an annual rate of $592,850.

Dean and Provost, Terence Flotte at UMass Memorial earned $712,041 with an annual rate of $542,875 – the second highest paid position.

The third highest paid position went to Derek Lovley, Associate Dean at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, who earned $664,636. Fourth went to Derek Kellogg, Head Basketball Coach at UMass Amherst, with a salary of $628,624. Joyce Murphy, Executive Vice Chancellor at University of Massachusetts Med. School, made $590,320 with an annual rate of $450,000.

Mass Senators and Reps.

The state’s legislature doesn’t compare to the salaries circulating Massachusetts colleges, but representatives and senators are still bringing in high salaries.

State Senator, Stephen Brewer topped the list with a salary of $93,333 and an annual rate of $60,033.

Senator Jennifer Flanagan, Rep. George Peterson, Senator Harriette Chandler, Rep. John Binienda, and Senator Richard Moore, all earned $83,333 with an annual rate of $60,033.

The next tier – Reps. Anne Gobi, Harold Naughton and Paul Frost along with Senator Michael Moore – earned $75,833 with the same annual rate.

Reps. James O'Day, John Fernandes, John Fresolo, John Mahoney, Jonathan Zlotnik, Ryan Fattman, Stephen DiNatale, Kevin Kuros, Kimberly Ferguson, Mary Keefe, Matthew Beaton, and Peter Durant all earned $68,333 with an annual rate of $60,033.

Sheriff’s Department

Many of the top earners were from state sheriff’s departments. Lew Evangelidis, Worcester County Sheriff earned $123,209, more than Shawn Jenkins, another Worcester County Sheriff who earned $113,346 with an annual rate of $119,500.

Other top earners from the Worcester Sheriff’s Department included David Anderson, who earned $102,820 and Kevin Vanarsdalen, who came in with $98,077.

Other State Offices

Other state departments with regional offices in Central Mass. are also bringing high salaries.

Barbara Morton, Central Regional Director for the Department of Youth Services earned $95,100 with an annual rate of $96,615.

Local Trial Court Associate Judges also pulled in high salaries. Justice Michael Allard-Madaus and Justice Janet McGuiggan both raked in $129,694.

Marilyn Alexander, the Assistant Director of the Worcester Department of Transitional Assistance earned $69,326, while the regional department’s Director, Maria Deberadinis pulled in $87,969 with an annual rate of $89,370.