These are the highest paid SC state government employees. One made almost $2 million
Six South Carolina state government employees make more than a million dollars a year, totalling $9.425 million in tax dollars, according to the state Department of Administration.
And it’s not hard to guess who they are. Coaches. All at the University of South Carolina.
But the list of all employees who make more than $50,000 on the Administration’s website doesn’t tell the whole story when it comes to coaches.
Conspicuously absent from the top salaries is Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, whose state salary is listed as $350,000, but last year he hauled in $11,250,000.
Jeff Kallin, spokesman for the Clemson athletic department said, “Athletic staff are paid using athletic-department-generated revenues (tickets, media rights, sponsorship, etc.). This is typically broken into three main areas, though there can be others (performance bonuses, retention, etc.): Base Pay, Supplemental Pay, and a Licensing Agreement.”
He said the highest paid coaches after Swinney are men’s basketball coach Brad Brownell, $4.25 million, ($350,000 state salary); football defensive coordinator Tom Allen, $2 million; baseball coach Erik Bakich, $1.325 million and football offensive coordinator Chad Morris, $1.2 million.
Allen, Bakich, and Morris are not listed in the state database.
Similarly, the total compensation for University of South Carolina coaches is not included in the database.
Who’s in the SC database?
The searchable database includes all state employees making more than $50,000 in more than 100 state agencies, commissions and departments. There are 43,757 people listed.
Some of the best known among state employees are far down the list of highest paid. Consider Gov. Henry McMaster, whose salary is listed as $106,078. Or SLED Chief Mark Keel $267,036. Education Superintendent Ellen Weaver $214,000.
The highest paid Clemson employee in the database is Robert Jones, who is serving as interim president since the retirement of Jim Clements. Jones’ salary is listed as $549,312.
Clements made $331,532 in base salary in 2025, the state website said. The Clemson University Foundation contributed an extra $825,000 to development and fundraising, according to information supplied to The State when he announced he was retiring.
Attorney General Alan Wilson makes $208,000. Public Safety Director Robert Woods’ salary is listed as $237,487.
It is not uncommon for an agency head’s salary to be lower than people they oversee, especially in agencies hiring doctors and psychiatrists such as the Department of Mental Health.
10 top paid South Carolina state employees:
10 - Sterling Lucas, $775,000. Lucas was hired as a coach at the University of South Carolina in 2022 and was the defensive ends/outside linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator. He is now the defensive coach for Louisiana State.
9 - Torrian Gray, $850,000. Gray has been on the USC coaching staff since 2021 and is the defensive backs coach, defensive passing game coordinator and promoted to co-defensive coordinator on Dec. 26, 2025.
8 - Joe DeCamillis, $850,000. DeCamiilis is the associate head coach and special teams coordinator at USC.
7 - Ray Tanner, $987,500. Former USC athletics director. Tanner stepped down as athletics director in 2024 to become athletics director emeritus and senior advisor to the president, focusing on fundraising and community engagement.
6 - Shane Beamer, $1,175,000. USC head football coach. Beamer’s contract calls for him to make $8,150,000 this year.
5 - Lamont Paris, $1,200,000, USC head basketball coach. Paris signed a $26.25 million contract extension in March 2024. His 2024-25 season salary was $3.75 million and increases by $250,000 annually, reaching $5 million in 2029-30.
4 - Paul Mainieri, $1,300,000, head USC baseball coach.
3 - Clayton White, $1,900,000, USC football defensive coordinator
2 - Jeremiah Donati, $1,900,000, USC athletics director
1 - Dawn Staley, head women’s basketball coach, $1.950,000. Her total compensation is more than $4 million a year, the highest in college women’s basketball. Her contract signed last January included a $500,000 signing bonus and an annual increase of $250,000, making the total value for the contract that goes through the 2029-30 season approximately $25.25 million.