Timothy Moore Leads Florida College Salary Rankings

Indian River State College president holds the highest total compensation among leaders in the Florida College System.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in People

Timothy Moore Leads Florida College Salary Rankings

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Do you trust that college president salaries are appropriate given the use of private foundation funds?

Timothy Moore, president of Indian River State College, maintains the top salary position in the Florida College System with a total compensation of $666,357. He leads the group of 28 institutions, followed by Madeline Pumariega with $654,289.

Why it matters

Compensation for these leaders is structured through a mix of state funding, which is capped at $200,000, and additional private foundation resources. This model highlights the reliance on non-state funds to provide executive packages in the Florida college system.

Indian River State College employs 129 staff members earning over $100,000, with 23 individuals above $150,000 and 6 exceeding $200,000. These figures exist within a system of 28 total institutions across Florida.

The players

Timothy Moore

He currently serves as the president of Indian River State College.

Madeline Pumariega

She is a college president within the Florida College System who holds the second-highest compensation.

The details

The Indian River State College board hired Moore in 2020. The current compensation landscape reflects internal institutional staffing hierarchies, where several dozen employees at the college earn six-figure salaries.

2014 was the year of a previous salary data analysis.
2020 marked the year the board hired Timothy Moore.
2026 is the year identifying Moore as the highest-paid president.

Market Landscape

The reliance on private foundation supplements to exceed the state-mandated $200,000 cap is a necessary strategy for recruitment in the current higher education market. This position keeps Indian River State College competitive with other top-tier institutions across Florida.

The high compensation levels reflect internal budget management and the use of private foundation contributions rather than tuition increases. Students and local residents can observe how public colleges utilize these private entities to manage high-level executive payrolls.

The takeaway

Publicly funded colleges increasingly rely on private support to attract and retain leadership talent in a competitive market. Understanding these diverse funding streams is essential for evaluating how institutions balance executive pay with general operational costs.