Top 100 salaries of MCPS employees in fiscal year 2026

Superintendent salary reaches over $400k

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July 31, 2026 5:22 p.m.

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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Thomas Taylor made over $400,000, making nearly $120,000 more than the second highest paid MCPS employees, according to data for fiscal year 2026 obtained by Bethesda Today on Thursday.   

Taylor was the highest paid MCPS employee in fiscal year 2026, making $406,253 Taylor started in the role July 1, 2024, and made $360,000 in fiscal year 2025. Former Superintendent Monifa McKnight stepped down in February 2024 in the wake of controversy surrounding the district’s mishandling of sexual harassment and bullying complaints against a middle school principal. McKnight was slated to receive $342,400 during fiscal year 2024, prior to stepping down.   

Bethesda Today obtained salary data for fiscal year 2026—which began July 1, 2025 and ended June 30, 2026—through a Maryland Public Information Act request. Bethesda Today requested the salary data on July 8.  

Chiefs, associate superintendents, some principals, earn upwards of $200K  

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Behind Taylor, MCPS chiefs, such as chief of staff for the school board, and chief financial officer made the highest salaries for fiscal year 2026 with 11 making over $280,000. 

 In the coming fiscal year, high ranking administrators in MCPS are set to receive a 6.23% wage increase for fiscal year 2027, after the Montgomery County school board approved the pay increase on June 25 for employees not covered by union contracts.    

The board unanimously approved the increase for “positions not on the salary schedule,” which includes chiefs, deputy chiefs and associate superintendents, according to MCPS spokesperson Liliana López. According to school board documents the increase was, “consistent with the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals/Montgomery County Business and Operations Administrators negotiated wage adjustment for FY 2027.” The association represents some administrators, but does not represent chiefs, deputy chiefs and associate superintendents.    

Nine deputy chiefs and associate superintendents made roughly $255,000.  

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 Irina LaGrange, the principal of Quince Orchard High in Gaithersburg was the highest paid principal, making $227,487 during fiscal year 2025. Shawaan Robinson, the principal of Paint Branch High in Burtonsville was the second highest paid principal, making $225,987.  

Here are the top 100 salaries of MCPS employees from fiscal year 2026.  

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine