Fair Wages and Regular Pay Increases

The chart above shows the average wages for graduate assistants at UAF ($17,019) and UAA ($15,661) for the academic year. These averages were calculated based on reported department pay rates and the FY23 salary data [12]. they reflect the increase graduate assistants saw beginning in Spring 2023 (for UAF) and Fall 2022 (for UAA). They do not include graduate assistants who are paid half-time or less.

Since summer funding varies dramatically by department and even lab, it was not taken into consideration when calculating the average wages above. Some students might be able to get full-time hours during the summer, while others can only get half-time hours, and many can get no funding at all. 

UAF lists Oregon State University and University of Rhode Island as “research peer” institutions [6]. Additionally, the Chancellor identifies New Jersey Institute of Technology and Brown University as peer Tier-1 universities [7]. Each of these four universities have graduate student unions.

Oregon State University pays its graduate students a minimum of $21,168 [8]. University of Rhode Island pays its graduate students a minimum of $21,480 [9].

NJ Institute of Technology pays its graduate students a minimum of $25,500 (a $1,500 increase between their 2019 and 2021 pay) [10]. Brown University pays its graduate students a minimum of $26,932 (including an increase of 2.5% per year) [11].

Unions work. Unionized graduate students are consistently paid more and better able to negotiate for regular increases in pay. It’s time UAA and UAF graduate students join together and make sure our voices are heard.