College is higher education, but does working there come with a higher salary?
We searched the highest-paid employees at Georgia's colleges and universities. We used the state's public records platform, Open Georgia, for the fiscal year 2025 and excluded those in athletics as well as those who are no longer employed.
Here are the highest paid state employees at the university level.
10. Vijay Patel
Vijaykumar Patel a.k.a. Vijay Patel earned $830,017.45 and was reimbursed $3,677.52 for travel. Patel is an Augusta University associate professor and provider of cardiothoracic surgery.
9. Daniel Miller
Augusta University professor and MCG director of thoracic surgery Daniel Miller earned $845,315.08and was reimbursed $11,578.30 for travel.
8. M. Bein Blake
Georgia State University President M. Bein
Blake earned $860,000.04 plus $2,773.27 in travel reimbursements.
7. David Hess
David Hess wears multiple hats at Augusta University including professor, Dean of MCG, AU Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and Integration, and former chairman of neurology. He earned $863,610.63 and was reimbursed $10,924.49 for travel.
6. William Jordan
Augusta University professor as well as Wellstar chair of surgery and surgeon in chief William Jordan earned $907,458.79with $2,087.55 in travel reimbursements.
5. Jere Morehead
University of Georgia President Jere Morehead had a salary of $1,005,800.40 plus $7,809.80 in travel reimbursements.
4. Fernando Vale Diaz
Augusta University professor and Wellstar neurosurgery chairman Fernando Vale Diaz earned $1,045,260.87 with $2,087.55 in travel reimbursements.
3. Richard Lee
Augusta University professor and Wellstar cardiothoracic surgery chief Richard Lee earned $1,244,386.96 plus $21,232.33 in travel reimbursements.
2. Angel Cabrera
Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera earned $1,244,386.96 plus $21,232.33 in travel reimbursements. He announced in June that he would step down this November to lead the non-profit Aspen Institute.
1. James St. Louis
Augusta University professor and MCG chief of pediatric and congenital heart surgery chief James St. Louis had the highest salary of $1,622,815.08 and had the highest amount of travel reimbursements: $37,406.31. He is also co-director of the pediatric and congenital heart program.
Kirby Smart salary
UGA Football Coach Kirby Smart is easily the highest paid University System of Georgia employee with just over $13.8 million with nearly $13 million as an affiliate amount.
Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Top-paid GA college employees. Salaries for presidents, professors
