5,000: Beth Sumner Named New Boise Airport Director

$325,000: Beth Sumner Named New Boise Airport Director

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Boise’s New Airport Director to Earn $325,000, Stepping In Just Below Her Predecessor’s Pay

Boise’s new airport director will pull in a base salary of $325,000, coming in just under what her predecessor made running the city’s highest-paying position. Mayor Lauren McLean tapped Beth Sumner, who previously served as the city’s deputy director of engineering and planning, to take over the role from former director Rebecca Hupp. Hupp drew an annual salary of $339,000 before stepping down, leaving the top aviation job with a slight downward adjustment in compensation, airport spokesperson Jennifer Kronberg told the Idaho Statesman.

The city’s official salary range for the airport director posting clocked in between $305,000 and $340,000, putting Sumner’s starting wage comfortably in the upper-middle tier of that scale. Before this promotion, Sumner stood as one of six city employees whose annual salary topped $200,000. Her resume includes a 26-year stint in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, alongside work as a senior executive for installation operations on the military side of the Boise airfield.

Regional Pay Disparities and the Cost of Municipal Leadership

While $325,000 ranks as the highest-paying position in Boise municipal government, regional comparisons show that neighboring airports often command steeper paychecks for executive talent. Recent hires at nearby airports with fewer passengers pulled larger compensation packages, according to reporting by the Idaho Statesman. Spokane offered its director $375,000, while Reno brought in a new airport executive with a $400,000 base salary.

Boise Airport Names New Director

City-owned airports like Boise’s sometimes have depressed salaries. Many airports are run either by local governments or a quasi-governmental airport authority.

“Beth has demonstrated an unmatched commitment to the growth of Boise’s Airport, leading important projects as we undergo an incredible expansion,” McLean said in a news release. “I look forward to her insights and leadership for years to come.”

$325,000: Beth Sumner Named New Boise Airport Director

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