Incoming Oregon State University vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics Kevin Griffin will be earning roughly half of what current athletic director Scott Barnes makes.

Griffin is contracted at an incoming salary of $500,000, while Barnes’ outgoing salary is $985,416.

University officials declined to comment on the reasoning behind the difference in salaries.

Barnes was hired as OSU’s athletic director in December 2016 and had previously worked in athletic director positions at four different schools. Griffin has never before worked as an AD. According to university salary reports, Barnes was making $737,500 at the University of Pittsburgh directly before coming to OSU in 2016, and Griffin was making $252,548 at Ohio State University last year.

Griffin will begin work for OSU on July 6, and Barnes will retire the day before. Barnes will serve as a senior adviser for athletics through Aug. 31, 2027. 

The salary of $500,000 is in the middle of the road for Pac-12 athletic director salaries. Schools such as Washington State and Utah State pay their ADs more and schools like Colorado State and Texas State pay less, according to contracts for these ADs. Barnes’ outgoing salary would lead the Pac-12 conference.

Along with his base pay, Griffin will also be getting compensation in the form of a car, bonuses if OSU teams have postseason success, a $30,000 relocation bonus and more. Griffin’s contract is in force for five years.