‘We are extremely happy with our president.’ USC’s Amiridis receives $150K raise
University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis will receive a $150,000 raise and could earn an additional $1.75 million over five years under a compensation plan USC’s board of trustees approved Friday.
“We are extremely happy with our president,” Board President Thad Westbrook said Friday, moments before the board approved Amiridis’ evaluation and new salary. “He is doing a fantastic job. The university is thriving and flying higher than it ever has before.”
Amiridis, who has served as president since 2022, will make $1.3 million, with the potential to earn an additional $350,000 per year, for a maximum annual value of $1.65 million.
He will only receive the supplemental compensation if he remains in his post until 2031, when those funds vest, Westbrook explained.
The raise gives Amiridis a slightly higher base salary than new Clemson University President Kevin Guskiewicz, who last month signed a five-year contract with a base salary of $1.216 million. Guskiewicz, who came to Clemson after two years leading Michigan State University, will receive an annual $50,000 raise with positive performance reviews and can earn up to $250,000 in bonuses each year.
Amiridis, a former USC provost who returned to the university after a stint leading the University of Illinois Chicago, has enjoyed a highly productive 4 1/2 years at USC’s helm.
Under his watch, the university has set fundraising records, attracted unprecedented levels of research dollars and achieved new highs for student enrollment while keeping tuition flat for in-state students.
The affable Amiridis, who is known to crack jokes at ordinarily dry legislative budget hearings, thanked the board for its confidence in him and credited the “excellent” relationship between the administration and board for the university’s accomplishments.
When asked to address the board Friday, immediately after trustees approved his raise, Amiridis kept his comments light and brief.
“For the first time, I prepared notes,” the president joked. “But given the time, I will follow the example of the chairman. Great meeting, and go Gamecocks!”
This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "‘We are extremely happy with our president.’ USC’s Amiridis receives $$150K raise."