MSU’s top 10 highest paid employees

Believe it or not, the ridiculously high tuition fees are actually put towards something other than to compensate for stolen cafeteria cups and silverware. The university currently has around 12,000 employees who work hard to keep our school as great as it is. These positions range from working at Sparty’s, maintenance workers, professors, administration, to athletics related. Each position is paid a different way – either hourly or salary based.

As you move up the ranking in authority, the salaries increase along with it. Here’s a look at the top 10 highest paid Michigan State employees according to MLive. Some of the leading salaries may surprise you, others not so much:

#10:  Roger Calantone, interim chair of the Department of Marketing at the Eli Broad College of Business: $393,313

Expertise in product design and development processes; decision support; pricing and price perception who was named a distinguished professor at Michigan State in 2015. He also serves as senior advisor to the Dean for Integrative Research and Outreach.

#9: Bengt Arnetz,  College of Human Medicine: $400,000

Chair of Department of Family Medicine. He received his degrees from the Karolinska Institute School of Medicine in Sweden. Dr. Arnetz focuses his research on family medicine, and primary and population health care systems, while working out of two campuses; one being here in East Lansing and the other located in Grand Rapids.

#8: Hyung Kim, Senior Associate Dean of the College of Human Medicine: $404,000

MD, MBA, Senior Associate Dean with a focus on clinical affairs.

#7: Tom Izzo, Men’s Basketball Coach: $411,545

Don’t be fooled by the number though. This is only a base pay, which is the initial proposed salary. According to USA Today, Izzo made a comfortable $4.2 million in 2015. The rest of the money comes from media appearances and other sponsorships.

#6: Sanjay Gupta, Dean of Eli Broad College of Business: $425,000

Professor of Accounting in the department of Accounting and Information Systems. He was appointed associate dean for the MBA and professional master’s programs in July 2012. Gupta’s research focuses on corporate and individual tax policy issues.

#5: C. Konrad Gelbke, Professor of physics at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory: $433,440

As a university distinguished professor, Gelbke focuses his research on nuclear reactions and nuclear matter as well as looking to study problems on astrophysical relevance.

#4: Suzy Merchant, Women’s Basketball Coach: $458,025

Considered one of the most successful coaches at Michigan State after nine seasons in the Big Ten conference. She currently holds the 10th best career record as a coach for Michigan State athletics.

#3: Mark Hollis, Athletic Director: $688,000

“We gather and engage our community to teach, support and celebrate our student-athletes in their quest for excellence.” Holding to this belief, he was named 2012 Athletic Director of the Year by Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal Daily.

#2: Lou Anna K. Simon, President of Michigan State University: $750,000

As of January 2005 she is the university’s 20th president. She strives to better the world with clean and affordable energy, access to education, safe and plentiful food, and health care through the innovations and advancements of Michigan State University.

#1: Mark Dantonio, Head Football Coach: $2,050,000

Starting his career as head coach in 2006, Dantonio’s salary started at 1.1 million. in 2015 Dantonio was able to bring his compensated salary to approximately $3.2 million, according to USA Today. Like Izzo, Dantonio’s media appearances and sponsors are what brings in the extra “pocket change”.