MDE Employees' 2025 Salaries Top $47.6M

TL;DR

MDE Salaries Released: MLive publishes 2025 wage data for Michigan Department of Education employees from a FOIA request.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)
Top Earner $228K: Sue Carnell, chief deputy superintendent, received $228,130.15, highest among 515 employees with median pay of $95,346.99.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)
Total Wages $47.6M: Department paid out over $47.6 million in wages, excluding benefits, with full list linked online.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

The story at a glance

MLive reports on 2025 salaries for Michigan Department of Education (MDE) employees, based on a Freedom of Information Act request. The data covers 515 employees, not all full-time, who handle public school oversight, grants, school aid, technical assistance, and federal funding. This comes out now as part of a series on state employee pay. Links provide the full table and top state earners.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

Key points

Total wages exceeded $47.6 million for 515 MDE employees in 2025, excluding benefits.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)
Median salary was $95,346.99 across the department.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)
Top earner: Sue Carnell, chief deputy superintendent, at $228,130.15.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)
Second: Michael Rice, superintendent until October 2025 retirement, $217,763.56.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)
Other top deputies earned around $191,000-$192,000: Diane Golzynski, Delsa Chapman, Michele Harmala.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)
New superintendent Glenn Maleyko, starting December 8, 2025, earned $10,421.50 that year; annual pay $272,000.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)
Data excludes governor's office, judicial branch, and legislative staff; full MDE list at linked table, top 100 state at another.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

Details and context

The Michigan Department of Education oversees public school districts and manages funding like school aid and federal grants. Wages cover 2025 only, from MLive's FOIA request, with a complete employee table available separately for 57,000 state workers.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

Notable staff changes: Randy Riley, state librarian at $163,801.08, died January 2, 2026; Michael Rice retired October 2025. Other high earners include directors for technology (David Judd, $162,941.02), standards (Andrew Middlestead, $162,574.48), and diversity (Rane Garcia, $158,377.90).[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

Key quotes

None.

Why it matters

State agency pay data like this shows how taxpayer funds support education administration amid ongoing debates over school funding and efficiency. Michigan residents and policymakers can use the specifics to assess department costs relative to services like grant distribution and technical aid. Watch for 2026 salary updates or budget shifts, especially with the new superintendent in place.

FAQ

Q: Who earned the most at Michigan Department of Education in 2025?

A: Sue Carnell, chief deputy superintendent, received $228,130.15. Michael Rice, the superintendent who retired in October 2025, earned $217,763.56. Several deputy superintendents followed closely around $191,000-$192,000.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

Q: What is the median salary for MDE employees?

A: The median salary was $95,346.99 across 515 employees, not all full-time. Total wages topped $47.6 million, excluding benefits.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

Q: How can I see the full list of MDE salaries?

A: A complete table of names, titles, and earnings is at the article's linked page for 57,000 state employees. Top 100 state earners are at another linked page.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

Q: What is Glenn Maleyko's pay as new superintendent?

A: He earned $10,421.50 in 2025 after starting December 8; his annual salary is $272,000.[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)

[[1]](https://www.mlive.com/data/2026/04/how-much-do-michigan-department-of-education-employees-make-see-their-salaries.html)