Faculty and staff are being paid below U.S. average
To afford living in Massachusetts, about 30 percent of campus staff work extra jobs and about half.
Low wages cut into campus hiring and retention
Low wages cut into campus hiring and retention
Massachusetts public colleges and universities paying below U.S. average
Faculty and staff working at public colleges and universities throughout Massachusetts are grappling with low wages that are forcing them to put off major life decisions, such as starting families, and requiring many to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Those were some of the findings of a survey the Massachusetts Teachers Association conducted of faculty and staff it represents at community colleges, state universities and the UMass system.
The survey was conducted to gather information to present to the state’s Commission on Higher Education Affordability and Quality. The commission will meet from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, to discuss recruitment and retention of faculty and staff at public higher education institutions in the state.
In addition to reviewing data from a survey the commission sent to public higher education administrators, the board also will hear from Anneta Argyres, director of the labor extension program at UMass Boston, and Jerusha Nelson-Peterman, professor of nutrition and health studies at Framingham State University. Argyres and Nelson-Peterman will present findings from the wages and living conditions survey. More than 2,800 faculty and staff working at public colleges and universities responded to the MTA survey. Respondents represent full- and part-time faculty and staff at community colleges, state universities and the UMass system.
A recent salary study conducted by ASA Research on behalf of the MTA revealed that community college faculty – with an average salary of $68,309 in FY 2022-2023 – are paid well below the national average, when adjusted for cost of living, and are the lowest paid when compared to nearby and peer states. Faculty at UMass and state universities also are paid substantially less than the national average, when adjusted for cost of living.
Staff and faculty at our public higher education institutions earning salaries below the living wage are unable to support themselves and their families. More than 32 percent of respondents reported some degree of food insecurity. More than half incur debt to pay for living expenses, restrict their utility use, and keep household temperatures lower than what they consider comfortable. About one-third of those answering the survey said they delayed a life milestone, such as getting married or having children, because of financial concerns.
To afford living in Massachusetts, about 30 percent of campus staff work extra jobs and about half of the faculty stated they take on additional work as adjunct faculty.
When asked about how having additional jobs affects their work, a faculty member wrote on the survey: “Balancing multiple jobs strains the ability to dedicate time to course preparation, student interaction and overall academic responsibilities. The constant rush and divided attention not only affect the quality of teaching but also diminish opportunities for meaningful student support, potentially leading to disengagement and missed learning opportunities.”
Faculty, staff are unable to support themselves and their families
- More than 32 percent of respondents reported some degree of food insecurity.
- More than half incur debt to pay for living expenses, restrict their utility use, and keep household temperatures lower than what they consider comfortable.
- About one-third of those answering the survey said they delayed a life milestone, such as getting married or having children, because of financial concerns.
MTA President Max Page, a member of the commission, said that the low wages for public higher education faculty and staff and high cost of living in Massachusetts are making it increasingly difficult to attract and retain the workers needed to ensure the quality of education provided at public colleges and universities.
Because of the $2.5 billion a year in revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment, championed by the MTA and other advocates for public education and transportation, Massachusetts is making important strides toward offering debt-free access to public higher education, Page said. But low wages are the main reason why campus positions are going unfilled, threatening student success and the quality of programs.
“Beacon Hill needs to maintain and improve the quality of public higher education – which starts with recruitment and retention of staff and faculty – even as we continue our quest for debt-free access for all residents,” Page said. “As the Trump administration moves to undermine higher education, we have a responsibility to protect the opportunities and benefits that flow from advanced learning. Massachusetts residents benefit, our communities benefit and our economy benefits when public colleges and universities are properly staffed and support the diverse array of students we want to attract to community colleges, state universities and UMass.”