Although the number of highly paid state employees has decreased and the total number of employees has fallen, the biggest salaries still are paid by South Carolina universities.

Of the 50 highest-paid state employees, 48 worked for the University of South Carolina, Clemson and the Medical University of South Carolina as of July 1.

Among them is former USC president John Palms, who was still among the top-paid state workers despite taking a 20 percent pay cut after retiring from the university's top job to become a physics professor and researcher.

The highest-paid state employee is Ralph E. White, dean of the College of Engineering and Information Technology at USC. White earns $234,016, according to the most recent information from the State Budget and Control Board. The board is required by state law to disclose government worker salaries of $50,000 or more.

White is followed by USC president Andrew Sorensen, who makes $215,000, and electrical engineering department chairman Muhammad A. Khan, who makes $206,810.

Palms had been third on the list of highly paid state employees, making $211,923, but has had his salary reduced since stepping down in June 2002.

Although Palms retained his salary while on sabbatical, his salary was reduced to $173,391 beginning July 1. He is teaching two courses this semester -- a freshman physics class and an honors course on physics -- while doing research, university spokesman Russ McKinney said.

USC has 1,823 employees on the highly paid list, earning a total of $137.7 million. Clemson has 1,255 employees on the list, earning a total of $94 million. MUSC has 959 employees on the list, earning at total of more than $80 million.

That's understandable as the state's research universities attempt to recruit the best employees, said House Ways and Means Chairman Bobby Harrell, R-Charleston. "We've got to be competitive and get the best folks we can," Harrell said. "That will require that you pay them."

However, the number might not sit well with other state employees, who have seen their ranks cut by 1,542 jobs -- about 2.8 percent of the workers who made less than $50,000 at Dec. 31, 2002.

The highly paid workers saw their ranks drop by 160 jobs -- or about 1.6 percent of the people making more than $50,000 at Dec. 31, 2002.

"It's a tragedy," said Broadus Jamerson, executive director of the South Carolina State Employees Association.

State employees are concerned about the jobs lost, the increase in their health insurance premiums and the strong possibility that additional cuts will be made soon, Jamerson said.

Gov. Mark Sanford's restructuring plan calls for an in-depth review of state government and eliminating duplication. That could lead to fewer high-salary positions, governor's spokesman Will Folks said.

Sanford ranked 759th on the list, with an annual salary as governor of $106,078.