Which state employees are RI’s highest earners? See who made 2024’s list.

Kingston: So, guess who’s raking in the big bucks in Rhode Island? It’s none other than URI men’s basketball coach Ryan “Archie” Miller. He’s back on top as the highest-paid state employee, pulling in a whopping $2.2 million this year. Can you believe it?

That’s more than triple what URI President Marc Parlange made, which was around $609,230. This list of the top 200 earners in the state, released by the Department of Administration, looks pretty similar to last year’s. URI coaches and staff are really dominating the scene.

It’s not just the coaches, though. Employees from the state hospital and prison systems are also on the list, thanks to a lot of overtime. Those correctional officers and hospital staff work around the clock, and it shows in their paychecks.

After Miller, the next highest earners include URI women’s basketball coach Tammi Reiss at $452,651 and URI Provost Barbara Wolfe at $440,651. It’s clear that URI is a big player in the state’s payroll.

And let’s not forget about the overtime champs! Mark Wilbur, a correctional officer, made the list too, with $284,973 in overtime alone. He’s been a top earner for years, consistently racking up those overtime hours.

Interestingly, the list doesn’t include employees from quasi-state agencies, like the Rhode Island Airport Corp. If it did, the CEO there would likely be right up there with the highest earners.

Even though Governor Dan McKee didn’t make the cut, his chief of staff did, earning $229,179. It’s a wild mix of salaries across the board, showing just how varied state employment can be.

So, there you have it! The highest earners in Rhode Island for 2024 are mostly from URI, with a few others sprinkled in. It’s always fascinating to see who’s making what, right?

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI’s top-earning state employees for 2024: URI coaches, administrators