Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The highest-paid employees in Massachusetts work for the university system. Yep, it pays to work in academia in Massachusetts, literally and figuratively.
Boston.com reported that “In total, the University of Massachusetts system accounted for an impressive $1.55 billion in state payroll expenditures, further cementing its central role in the state’s public sector workforce.”
Coaches and Chancellors Lead the Pack
As of November 10, 2025, “UMass Men’s Basketball Head Coach Francisco (Frank) Martin held onto the title of the highest-paid state employee for the third consecutive year, with a salary of $1,955,216.”
UMass Chan Medical School Chancellor Michael Collins is second at $1.2 million, and UMass Head Football Coach Joseph Harasymiak is third at $1.1 million.
The Massachusetts Office of the Comptroller says the total state payroll is $11.75 billion, down slightly from last year. The Comptroller says 14 of the top 15 paid workers are with the UMass system, which it says has a $1.62 billion payroll…