Superintendent Earned Top New Jersey Salary
Howard Lerner earned $346,189 as superintendent for two school districts during the 2025-26 school year.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Administration
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During the 2025-26 school year, Howard Lerner received the highest pay among New Jersey school superintendents at $346,189. He achieved this by splitting his administrative duties between two separate districts.
Why it matters
The high salaries of top administrators reflect a competitive landscape where superintendents sometimes manage multiple districts simultaneously to meet administrative needs. This compensation stands significantly above both the state and national averages for similar roles.
Approximately 80 superintendents in the state earned over $250,000, while at least 18 individuals split their duties between two districts. The average salary for full-time superintendents in New Jersey reached $203,000.
The players
Howard Lerner
He is the New Jersey school superintendent who earned the highest salary in the state during the 2025-26 school year.
Norma Fernandez
She serves as a superintendent in Jersey City and earned the second-highest salary among her peers in New Jersey.
The details
Howard Lerner served as the leader for both the Bergen County Vocational Technical School District and the Bergen County Special Services School District. While Lerner held the top position, Norma Fernandez recorded the second-highest salary in the state.
Timeline
The 2024-25 school year saw an average U.S. superintendent salary of $131,171.
During the 2025-26 school year, Howard Lerner earned a total of $346,189.
Culture Shift
This compensation model highlights the evolving administrative structure of New Jersey school districts, where shared leadership has become a strategic tool for local boards. The high pay underscores how districts prioritize experienced leadership by combining resources to attract top talent.
Taxpayers in districts sharing a single superintendent may see lower administrative overhead costs compared to funding separate leadership for every school entity. These figures represent the direct investment into district management that affects local school budgets.
The takeaway
Understanding how top-tier administrative salaries compare to district averages helps citizens gauge the cost of leadership in their local systems. These compensation figures highlight the financial impact of board decisions to share executives between multiple districts.
Further reading
For more information on school leadership trends, visit the New Jersey Administration section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NJ.
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