News Summary
Peter W.T. Pisters, president of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, leads Texas’s public university executive compensation with a package of $3.9 million for the 2025 fiscal year. The analysis reveals MD Anderson officials dominate the top pay spots in Texas’s public university systems, highlighting significant salary disparities across various executive roles. Notably, 86 of the top 100 highest-paid executives come from the University of Texas System, reflecting the scale and financial commitment to leadership in higher education within the state.
Austin, Texas – Peter W.T. Pisters, the president of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, leads the state’s executive compensation list with a total pay package of $3.9 million for the 2025 fiscal year. This compensation surpasses all other executives within Texas’ public university systems, according to an analysis of salary data conducted by the Houston Chronicle.
The analysis compiled salaries effective as of September 1, 2024, deriving data from Texas’s seven university systems and one independent university, which comprise a mix of administrative and health-related institutions. Notably, health officials, particularly those working at MD Anderson, dominate the list of highly compensated individuals.
In total, executives from the University of Texas System claim an impressive 86 of the top 100 highest-paid spots. The University of Texas System stands out as the largest university system in Texas, with an enrollment of approximately 256,000 students spread across 14 academic and health institutions, including prestigious entities such as the University of Texas at Austin and the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Among the other notable figures in the compensation analysis is Renu Khator, Chancellor and President of the University of Houston System, whose compensation package totals $1,589,178. This includes a base salary nearing $1.1 million, a cash bonus of $300,000, a $908 club membership, $2,000 in longevity pay, a designated university vehicle, and $200,000 allocated for retirement benefits.
Tedd Mitchell, who serves as the president of the Texas Tech University System, also made the list, leading Khator’s earnings with an almost $1.1 million base salary. His compensation is supplemented by $800,000 in retention pay and an additional $325,000 classified as deferred compensation.
For athletic programs, Chris Del Conte, the athletic director at the University of Texas, recorded a compensation package of $2.8 million, underscoring the wide salary variations across different roles within the university systems.
The salary figures reported represent a snapshot typically seen when the fiscal year begins; however, it is important to note that salaries may fluctuate throughout the fiscal year. Not every executive on the lists will receive their entire compensation in cash as various factors such as deferred compensation, bonuses, allowances, and additional benefits are factored into the overall amounts.
Furthermore, data pertaining to the highest compensation packages is compiled by the state and is accessible through the Legislative Budget Board’s Administrative Accountability Reports. This data set focuses on public doctoral universities across the United States, specifically excluding systems and governing boards that apply only to community colleges.
In summary, Peter W.T. Pisters’ remarkable compensation as president of the MD Anderson Cancer Center not only sets a precedent within Texas but also highlights the substantial investments placed in leadership within the public university systems of the state. The analysis sheds light on executive compensation practices that continue to evolve and shape the landscape of higher education in Texas.
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Additional Resources
- Houston Chronicle: Top Paid University Executives
- Wikipedia: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Chronicle of Higher Education: President Pay at Public Colleges
- Google Search: Executive Compensation Public Universities Texas
- Houston Chronicle: UT’s Top Paid Employees
- Google Scholar: Texas University Executive Compensation
- D Magazine: North Texas Healthcare Compensation
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public University Executive Compensation
- Houston Chronicle: Texas A&M Highest Paid Employees
- Google News: UT President Compensation
Author: STAFF HERE AUSTIN WRITER
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