Texas / Department of Agriculture

Agency file

Department of Agriculture

Source file: Texas — State Employee Salaries (Texas Tribune) / ingested Jun 18, 2026

The Department of Agriculture supports agriculture — farming, food safety, livestock, and rural development programs.

In 2026, this agency had 652 employees with median total compensation of $69,000; the highest distinct record was $237,313.

Year: 2026
Total payroll: $48.6M
Employees: 652
Median total: $69,000
Highest record: $237,313

What the records show

Compensation analytics

These summaries compare pay within the agency before listing individual records.

Salary distribution

$24,000$160,000+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How 2026 total compensation is spread across the 652 employees. Each bar is a pay range; taller bars mean more people earn in that range. The amber line marks the median ($69,000) — half earn less, half more. The far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Average pay composition

Base — $74,548 (100%)
Overtime — $0 (0%)
Other — $0 (0%)
Benefits — $0 (0%)

What an average paycheck here is made of — base salary versus overtime, other pay (bonuses, allowances), and benefits. A large overtime or other-pay share means take-home often exceeds base salary.

Pay percentiles

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$49,800

$53,032

$69,000

$84,000

$110,155

The pay ladder for this department. Someone at the 90th percentile earns $110,155 — more than 90% of the department; the 10th percentile earns $49,800. The shaded band is the middle half of employees (25th–75th percentile).

Largest job titles

Inspector II

49 · $49,800

Inspector VI

32 · $64,134

Compliance Analyst II

31 · $69,300

Program Specialist III

25 · $58,800

Inspector I

24 · $43,348

The most common job titles in this department by headcount, with the median total compensation for each. Click a title to see everyone who holds it.

Trend

Year over year

How this department's total payroll, headcount, and median pay changed across the 2 published years.

Year	Total payroll	Employees	Median pay
2025	$48.3M —	662 —	$68,147 —
2026	$48.6M ▲ 0.6%	652 ▼ 1.5%	$69,000 ▲ 1.3%

Record list

Employees

Page 1

Terrence Keel

Deputy Director III/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$237,313

Base pay: $237,313
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $237,313
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1632
Hire Date: Jan 12, 2015
Monthly Pay: $19,776
State Employee Number: 153838

Terrence Keel holds the role of Deputy Director III at Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $237,313.

Susan Maldonado

General Counsel V/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$226,397

Base pay: $226,397
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $226,397
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 3525
Hire Date: Mar 16, 2015
Monthly Pay: $18,866
State Employee Number: 170677

At Department of Agriculture, Susan Maldonado serves as a General Counsel V. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $226,397.

Todd Smith

Deputy Director II/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$218,582

Base pay: $218,582
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $218,582
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1631
Hire Date: Jan 14, 2025
Monthly Pay: $18,215
State Employee Number: 1763873

At Department of Agriculture, Todd Smith serves as a Deputy Director II. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $218,582.

Marios Parpounas

Deputy Director I/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$218,000

Base pay: $218,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $218,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1630
Hire Date: May 1, 2024
Monthly Pay: $18,167
State Employee Number: 285655

Marios Parpounas is a Deputy Director I at Department of Agriculture. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $218,000.

Lena Harris-Wilson

Deputy Director I/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$218,000

Base pay: $218,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $218,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: E

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1630
Hire Date: Jul 29, 2019
Monthly Pay: $18,167
State Employee Number: 1197104

At Department of Agriculture, Lena Harris-Wilson serves as a Deputy Director I. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $218,000.

Daniel Hunter

Deputy Director I/Department of Agriculture

2025 total comp

$213,582

Base pay: $213,582
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $213,582
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1630
Hire Date: Feb 3, 2015
Monthly Pay: $17,798
State Employee Number: 475236

Daniel Hunter holds the role of Deputy Director I at Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2025, their total compensation was $213,582.

Walter Roberts

Deputy Director I/Department of Agriculture

2025 total comp

$203,411

Base pay: $203,411
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $203,411
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1630
Hire Date: Nov 17, 2014
Monthly Pay: $16,951
State Employee Number: 761417

Walter Roberts is a Deputy Director I at Department of Agriculture. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2025 total compensation came to $203,411.

Brian Murray

Director V/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$182,326

Base pay: $182,326
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $182,326
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1624
Hire Date: Jul 1, 2022
Monthly Pay: $15,194
State Employee Number: 126301

At Department of Agriculture, Brian Murray serves as a Director V. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $182,326.

Stephanie Robinson

Director V/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$176,400

Base pay: $176,400
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $176,400
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1624
Hire Date: Sep 1, 2024
Monthly Pay: $14,700
State Employee Number: 44169

Stephanie Robinson holds the role of Director V at Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $176,400.

Lindsay Rodgers

Director V/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$176,400

Base pay: $176,400
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $176,400
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: F

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1624
Hire Date: Oct 15, 2024
Monthly Pay: $14,700
State Employee Number: 47253

Lindsay Rodgers works as a Director V for Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Lindsay earned $176,400 in 2026.

Bertha Serna

Director V/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$174,000

Base pay: $174,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $174,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1624
Hire Date: Jan 5, 2015
Monthly Pay: $14,500
State Employee Number: 169840

At Department of Agriculture, Bertha Serna serves as a Director V. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $174,000.

Christopher Bunton

Director IV/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$171,328

Base pay: $171,328
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $171,328
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1623
Hire Date: Aug 28, 2023
Monthly Pay: $14,277
State Employee Number: 56544

Christopher Bunton is a Director IV at Department of Agriculture. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $171,328.

Frank Santos

Director V/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$170,000

Base pay: $170,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $170,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1624
Hire Date: Oct 27, 2025
Monthly Pay: $14,167
State Employee Number: 1806008

Frank Santos holds the role of Director V at Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $170,000.

Reb Wayne

Director IV/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$170,000

Base pay: $170,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $170,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1623
Hire Date: Mar 16, 2026
Monthly Pay: $14,167
State Employee Number: 6678

Reb Wayne holds the role of Director IV at Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $170,000.

Catherine Wright-Steele

Director IV/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$169,939

Base pay: $169,939
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $169,939
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1623
Hire Date: Dec 6, 2004
Monthly Pay: $14,162
State Employee Number: 59742

Catherine Wright-Steele holds the role of Director IV at Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $169,939.

Freddy Vest

Director IV/Department of Agriculture

2025 total comp

$165,375

Base pay: $165,375
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $165,375
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1623
Hire Date: Apr 1, 2015
Monthly Pay: $13,781
State Employee Number: 789356

At Department of Agriculture, Freddy Vest serves as a Director IV. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2025 pay totaled $165,375.

Ralph Davis

Director V/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$160,000

Base pay: $160,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $160,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: C

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1624
Hire Date: Jun 15, 2023
Monthly Pay: $13,333
State Employee Number: 111848

Ralph Davis holds the role of Director V at Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. In 2026, their total compensation was $160,000.

Karen Reichek

Director IV/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$157,768

Base pay: $157,768
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $157,768
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: L

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1623
Hire Date: Dec 1, 2005
Monthly Pay: $13,147
State Employee Number: 10451

Karen Reichek is a Director IV at Department of Agriculture. They work crf - classified regular full-time. 2026 total compensation came to $157,768.

Dale Scott

Director IV/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$156,000

Base pay: $156,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $156,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1623
Hire Date: Nov 1, 2009
Monthly Pay: $13,000
State Employee Number: 3357

At Department of Agriculture, Dale Scott serves as a Director IV. They work crf - classified regular full-time. Their 2026 pay totaled $156,000.

Philip Wright

Director IV/Department of Agriculture

2026 total comp

$156,000

Base pay: $156,000
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $156,000
Employment type: Crf - Classified Regular Full-Time
Full-time equivalent (FTE): 1
Middle name: G

Source-specific fields

Class Code: 1623
Hire Date: Feb 15, 2008
Monthly Pay: $13,000
State Employee Number: 24697

Philip Wright works as a Director IV for Department of Agriculture. Their status is crf - classified regular full-time. Philip earned $156,000 in 2026.