29 employers in Macomb County paid $781,614,082 combined for public education employee salaries in 2021, ranking it third among Michigan counties.
Employers in Wayne County spent the most for public education employee salaries in Michigan in 2021, paying $1,523,022,718 total.
The data was gathered by the non-profit Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
More than one-third of Michigan residents said they believe school quality has worsened in recent years, and two-thirds say schools need more funding.
The Michigan government proposed spending $2.3 billion over four years to combat teacher shortages by recruiting and retaining teachers and other school staff.
Total public education employee salaries by county in 2021
| Rank | County | Amount spent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne County | $1,523,022,718 |
| 2 | Oakland County | $1,158,524,036 |
| 3 | Macomb County | $781,614,082 |
| 4 | Kent County | $643,647,060 |
| 5 | Genesee County | $343,837,865 |
| 6 | Washtenaw County | $336,453,909 |
| 7 | Ottawa County | $282,172,800 |
| 8 | Ingham County | $277,524,477 |
| 9 | Kalamazoo County | $246,044,913 |
| 10 | Muskegon County | $162,792,780 |
| 11 | Livingston County | $155,960,747 |
| 12 | St. Clair County | $153,820,764 |
| 13 | Saginaw County | $150,956,178 |
| 14 | Jackson County | $146,878,082 |
| 15 | Monroe County | $143,497,454 |
| 16 | Calhoun County | $134,768,439 |
| 17 | Berrien County | $132,890,175 |
| 18 | Bay County | $111,581,828 |
| 19 | Eaton County | $98,718,511 |
| 20 | Van Buren County | $95,345,657 |
| 21 | Allegan County | $94,060,181 |
| 22 | Lenawee County | $92,986,265 |
| 23 | Grand Traverse County | $73,687,437 |
| 24 | Midland County | $72,101,842 |
| 25 | Shiawassee County | $64,050,422 |
| 26 | Montcalm County | $61,561,009 |
| 27 | St. Joseph County | $60,417,808 |
| 28 | Lapeer County | $59,893,549 |
| 29 | Clinton County | $57,786,643 |
| 30 | Marquette County | $55,445,897 |
| 31 | Tuscola County | $47,953,770 |
| 32 | Ionia County | $47,782,210 |
| 33 | Barry County | $47,220,295 |
| 34 | Newaygo County | $47,159,154 |
| 35 | Mecosta County | $46,250,835 |
| 36 | Isabella County | $42,125,894 |
| 37 | Gratiot County | $40,894,670 |
| 38 | Branch County | $40,814,665 |
| 39 | Cass County | $40,068,714 |
| 40 | Clare County | $35,025,096 |
| 41 | Wexford County | $34,431,865 |
| 42 | Houghton County | $34,398,660 |
| 43 | Mason County | $33,789,386 |
| 44 | Chippewa County | $33,404,106 |
| 45 | Hillsdale County | $33,068,034 |
| 46 | Sanilac County | $32,638,503 |
| 47 | Huron County | $32,159,238 |
| 48 | Delta County | $31,386,175 |
| 49 | Charlevoix County | $29,960,677 |
| 50 | Emmet County | $28,659,330 |
| 51 | Alpena County | $25,271,477 |
| 52 | Iosco County | $24,994,105 |
| 53 | Dickinson County | $23,682,703 |
| 54 | Otsego County | $20,353,544 |
| 55 | Roscommon County | $19,581,874 |
| 56 | Osceola County | $19,053,967 |
| 57 | Cheboygan County | $18,635,773 |
| 58 | Menominee County | $18,120,011 |
| 59 | Oceana County | $17,658,158 |
| 60 | Manistee County | $15,833,905 |
| 61 | Antrim County | $15,293,610 |
| 62 | Leelanau County | $15,271,691 |
| 63 | Gladwin County | $11,829,363 |
| 64 | Gogebic County | $11,730,429 |
| 65 | Missaukee County | $11,161,672 |
| 66 | Kalkaska County | $10,839,957 |
| 67 | Benzie County | $10,210,258 |
| 68 | Arenac County | $9,969,039 |
| 69 | Ogemaw County | $8,921,694 |
| 70 | Crawford County | $8,650,287 |
| 71 | Mackinac County | $8,305,263 |
| 72 | Iron County | $7,017,258 |
| 73 | Presque Isle County | $6,911,172 |
| 74 | Alger County | $6,348,677 |
| 75 | Baraga County | $5,774,726 |
| 76 | Ontonagon County | $5,736,837 |
| 77 | Oscoda County | $4,666,026 |
| 78 | Alcona County | $3,852,544 |
| 79 | Schoolcraft County | $3,376,856 |
| 80 | Montmorency County | $3,334,571 |
| 81 | Lake County | $3,308,823 |
| 82 | Luce County | $2,989,440 |
| 83 | Caledonia County | $1,778,916 |
| 84 | Keweenaw County | $88,844 |
