University of Hawaii President David McClain is the state's highest-paid higher-education leader, but his total compensation last year of $396,312 is still below the median for public university presidents.

That is according to an annual survey of executive compensation compiled by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The chronicle found salaries for university presidents, especially at public universities, continue to rise, with nearly one-third of presidents at public research universities making more than $500,000.

Median pay and benefits at public institutions rose 7.6 percent in 2007-08 to $427,400, according to the survey.

The median compensation at private research universities was $528,125.

Longtime Hawaii Pacific University President Chatt Wright made $321,750 last year, above the $258,636 median for private master's institutions.

Former UH President Evan Dobelle holds the record for university compensation in Hawaii and was one of the highest-paid public university presidents in the nation during his tenure.

When he was hired in 2001, the chronicle ranked his $599,500 salary and benefits package as the third highest in the nation among public universities.

McClain's contract was negotiated with the board based on the salaries of presidents of similar institutions to UH and was slightly below the median when he was given a three-year contract in 2006, after serving as interim president following Dobelle's resignation in 2004.

McClain is scheduled to step down as UH president next summer. A search for his successor has begun. Board of Regents Chairman Allan Landon said the search advisory committee is working on defining what is needed in the next president and has yet to look at what the salary range might be.

“;We're certainly mindful of the limitations of the environment and whether that affects expectations and the competitive marketplace,”; Landon said. “;Maybe the economy will adjust everyone's expectations to reality.”;

The chronicle found the median chief executive salary at public universities increased 35.6 percent since Dobelle was hired. The highest-paid chief executive at a public university last year was E. Gordon Gee of Ohio State University, who collected more than $1.3 million.

Last year's pay raises happened before much of this year's economic upheaval. A handful of college leaders have returned bonuses or turned down raises as their campuses deal with budget cuts, the chronicle reported.