New Jersey Superintendent Salaries Rose During 2025-26
The state's top-earning school administrator made over $346,000, significantly outpacing national averages.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Administration
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During the 2025-26 school year, Howard Lerner served as the highest-paid superintendent in New Jersey with a salary of $346,189. This data reflects a broader trend of significant executive compensation within the state's public school system.
Why it matters
These salary figures highlight the premium compensation for top school administrators in New Jersey, where leadership roles across multiple districts often drive higher pay scales. Understanding these administrative costs is a key factor for residents monitoring local education budgets and district management.
Five New Jersey superintendents earned over $300,000 during the 2025-26 school year, while approximately 80 earned more than $250,000. These figures compare to a state average of $203,000 and a 2024-25 national average of $131,171.
The players
Howard Lerner
The superintendent who split duties between the Bergen County Vocational Technical School District and the Bergen County Special Services School District.
Norma Fernandez
The Jersey City educator who earned the second-highest salary among New Jersey school superintendents.
The details
Compensation structures in New Jersey schools are influenced by the practice of superintendents managing multiple districts simultaneously. At least 18 administrators, including Howard Lerner, split their executive duties between two separate districts during the 2025-26 school year. This arrangement allows districts to share leadership costs while providing comprehensive administrative oversight across larger student populations.
Timeline
The average U.S. superintendent salary was $131,171 during the 2024-25 school year.
Howard Lerner earned $346,189 during the 2025-26 school year.
The Home Front
The 2025-26 salary data reflects a significant gap between local administrative compensation and broader national averages. This development follows a pattern set by New Jersey Department of Education superintendent salary reporting, marking a steady increase in executive pay.
Residents should review their own district's budget documents to understand how leadership costs are allocated in their community. Check the annual audit reports for your specific school district to see how administrative spending compares to the state averages reported for the 2025-26 school year.
The takeaway
Top-earning school administrators in New Jersey often manage multiple districts to maximize oversight and efficiency. Homeowners can track district management costs by reviewing the superintendent salary disclosures typically published in the annual district financial report.
Further reading
For more on how local schools manage leadership costs, visit the New Jersey Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJ.
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