Minimum Salaries- Fall/Spring and Summer Academic Year 2026-2027
The minimum salaries for graduate students holding an assistantship are specified by the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the exclusive representative of UNM graduate assistantship holders. The CBA specifies minimum salaries for all types of assistantships: teaching assistants (TAs), graduate assistants (GAs), research assistants (RAs), and project assistants (PAs).
Under the Article 5 of the CBA, departments can pay an assistantship holder more than the salary or hourly minimums.
Contract Terms are identified on the OAP website
Prior to submitting the contract review this page to ensure you are meeting the minimum contract length
Contract Terms (Length) :: Office for Academic Personnel | The University of New Mexico (unm.edu)
The following are the rates for Teaching Assistants, Graduate Assistants, Research Assistants.
The Project Assistant hourly rate to be used is in the corresponding hourly rate column.
Term (Common Contract Term Length) | Pre vs. Post Masters | Full Time Equivalent (FTE) | Contract Total Per Term | Minimum Weekly Rate (TA/GA) | Minimum Monthly Rate* (RA) | Minimum Even Monthly Payments for Common Contract Term** (TA/GA) | Hourly Equivalent Rate or Hourly Rate*** (PA) |
Fall / Spring (18 weeks) | Pre-Masters | 50% | $9,953.18 | $552.95 | $2,396.09 | $1,990.64 | $27.65 |
|
| 25% | $4,976.58 | $276.48 | $1,198.04 | $995.32 | $27.65 |
| Post-Masters | 50% | $10,949.27 | $608.29 | $2,635.88 | $2,189.85 | $30.41 |
|
| 25% | $5,474.64 | $304.15 | $1,317.94 | $1,094.93 | $30.41 |
Summer (9 weeks) | Pre-Masters | 100% | $9,953.18 | $1,105.91 | $2,396.09 | $3,317.73 | $27.65 |
|
| 50% | $4,976.58 | $552.95 | $1,198.04 | $1,658.86 | $27.65 |
| Post-Masters | 100% | $10,949.27 | $1,216.59 | $2,635.88 | $3,649.76 | $30.41 |
|
| 50% | $5,474.64 | $608.29 | $1,317.94 | $1,824.88 | $30.41 |
*In months where RAs are contracted for the full month, they will be paid at or above the minimum monthly rate. In months where RA's are contracted for partial months, their monthly pay will be prorated.
**Since TAs and GAs are paid in equal monthly installments, they will be paid at or above the minimum even monthly payment for a common contract term rate (Standard common contract is 18-week contract). TAs and GAs will receive five even payments in the Fall and Spring, and equal payments in the summer dependent on the summer session start and end dates.
***PAs will be paid at or above the minimum hourly rate
RA and PA contracts may have deviation to the standard 18-week calendar.
Appointment Percent (FTE) Requirements for Teaching Assistants
In accordance with Article 9, Section H, the appointment level (appointment percent) shall be based on the appointing department’s determination of the amount of time it should normally take to perform assigned duties. The average number of hours per week over the course of the full appointment period is an estimate rather than an exact time specification.
For Teaching Assistants, the appointment percent shall follow the following standards:
- During the fall and spring semesters, a 25% appointment percent assumes a TA will teach one, 3 credit class during any portion of the term.
- For summer session, 50% appointment percent assumes that a TA will teach one, 3 credit class during any portion of the 8-week period.
