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School administrators and teachers in Richland are earning a bit more when compared with their peers in Pasco and Kennewick, new salary data from the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction finds.
The dataset reflects salaries from the 2020-2021 school year.
Top-earning secondary school teachers and elementary homeroom teachers are making $95,520 in Richland, compared with about $95,185 in Pasco and $95,041 in Kennewick. Those top earners often take home six-figure salaries, too.
Richland’s Shelley Redinger, superintendent of the smallest of the three biggest Tri-City school districts, is still earning more than the superintendents in neighboring Pasco and Kennewick.
She had a base salary of $178,750 this school year, but took home $259,472 in total earnings with insurance and benefits.
And Kennewick Superintendent Traci Pierce made a base salary of $159,026 and took home $244,182 total.
And Pasco Superintendent Michelle Whitney’s base salary was $184,000, but in total she earned $215,901.
Superintendents, administrators and teachers in the Tri-Cities have seen their wages increase significantly in recent years.
Who topped the list?
In the 2020-21 school year, Tim Praino and Tory Christensen tied for Richland’s highest-paid principal. They both took home a total salary of $163,330.
Both will also take on new roles at the school district this year.
After more than a decade leading Richland High School, Praino recently announced he would take a new position as the executive director of human resources.
And Christensen will begin work soon as a special assignment principal serving all secondary schools in the district.
John Wallwork, former Chiawana High School principal, was the highest-paid principal in Pasco, raking in a total salary of $157,952.
Pasco High School Principal Jacob Stueckle, who’s worked at the district for about 18 years, is just behind Wallwork, earning $155,443.
Douglas Christensen, Kennewick’s deputy superintendent, was the second-highest earner in the district with a total salary of $201,385 during the 2020-21 school year.
Among top-earning principals at Kennewick include: Kamiakin’s Christopher Chelin, who made $176,815, and Kennewick’s Ronald King, who made $175,853.
