The highest-paid public employee in 39 US states is either a football or men's basketball coach

Schools and conferences have seen a sharp increase in sports television revenue in recent years. That, combined with large contributions from boosters, has led to more and more money going to the coaches of football and men's basketball teams. The earnings have risen so much that in 39 of the 50 US states, the highest-paid public employee is a university coach, according to data collected by 24/7 Wall Street. Below is a look at the ten highest-paid coaches among those who are the highest-paid public employees in their state, ranked by their earnings. View As: One Page Slides

10. Pennsylvania — James Franklin, $4.4 million Employer: Pennsylvania State University Position: football coach Contract: Franklin will receive a $300,000 retention bonus for every year he remains at Penn State through 2018. That bonus jumps to $750,000 in 2019. He also gets access to 35 hours of the school's private plane each year.

9. Kansas — Bill Self, $4.94 million Employer: University of Kansas Position: men's basketball coach Contract: Self reportedly only pays state taxes on about 10% of his earnings since most of his earnings are paid through a limited-liability company. Since 2012, LLCs have been exempt from Kansas income taxes.

8. Arizona — Sean Miller, $4.95 million Employer: University of Arizona Position: men's basketball coach Contract: Since being hired in 2009, Miller has received pay raises several times even though he has never asked for one, according to the school's athletic director. He was also given a share of a $4 million privately donated investment and has access to a charter jet.

7. Florida — Jimbo Fisher, $5.15 million Employer: Florida State University Position: football coach Contract: Fisher's latest contract will pay him at least $44 million through 2022.

6. Texas — Charlie Strong, $5.16 million Employer: University of Texas at Austin Position: football coach Contract: The University of Texas also paid the University of Louisville $4.4 million to buy out Strong's previous contract.

5. Ohio — Urban Meyer, $5.86 million Employer: Ohio State University Position: football coach Contract: Meyer signed an extension in 2015 and is now under contract through 2020 with an average salary of $6.5 million. If Meyer is fired before the end of the 2017 season, Ohio State will have to pay Meyer $21.3 million.

4. Oklahoma — Bob Stoops, $5.86 million Employer: University of Oklahoma Position: football coach Contract: Stoops is signed through the 2021 season. His earnings will reach $6.5 million in the final year of his contract.

3. Kentucky — John Calipari, $6.88 million Employer: University of Kentucky Position: men's basketball coach Contract: Calipari signed a seven-year, $52.5 million extension in 2014. He received a $1.6 million bonus in July for still being at the school. That retention bonus increases each year.

2. Michigan — Jim Harbaugh, $7 million Employer: University of Michigan Position: football coach Contract: Harbaugh signed a seven-year contract that will pay him at least $40.1 million. He must pay back a prorated portion of his $2 million signing bonus if he leaves Michigan for another job before the contract is over.

1. Alabama — Nick Saban, $7.09 million Employer: University of Alabama Position: football coach Contract: Nick Saban can also get up to $700,000 a year in bonuses and even had his $3 million mortgage paid off by boosters.