MINIMUM SALARIES – Fall 2024 and Spring 2025
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)
TEACHING ASSISTANTS and GRADUATE ASSISTANTS
Contract Terms (Length) :: Office for Academic Personnel | The University of New Mexico (unm.edu)
Pre-Masters | |||
Appt % | Contract Total Per Term* | Minimum Weekly Rate | Minimum Monthly Pay Rate for Common Contract Term |
50% | $9,160.77 | $508.93 | $1,832.15 |
25% | $4,580.38 | $254.46 | $916.08 |
Post Masters and Pursuing Doctoral Degree | |||
Appt % | Contract Total Per Summer Term*
| Minimum Weekly Rate | Minimum Monthly Pay Rate for Common Contract Term |
50% | $10,077.56 | $ 559.86 | $ 2,015.51 |
25% | $5,038.78 | $ 279.93 | $ 1,007.76 |
*The CBA Article 5.D defines the minimum salary in terms of a 18-week term. As TA and GA contracts are paid in equal monthly installments, minimum monthly pay rates have been provided for a 18-week contract term. For contract terms other than the 18 weeks, the minimum monthly salary is calculated as follows:
Minimum Monthly Pay Rate = (Minimum Weekly Rate x Number of Weeks)/Number of Pay Periods
Example
- Contract Start Date = 09/10/2024
- Contract End Date = 12/14/2024 (13.8 weeks; each day M-F is .2 of a week)
- Number of Pay Periods = 4 (September – December)
- Job title: TA
- Level = Pre Masters
- FTE = 50%
- Minimum Monthly Pay Rate = ($93 x 13.8 weeks)/ 4 pay periods = $1,755.81/Month
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.
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS (Expressed in Monthly Rates)
Contract Terms (Length) :: Office for Academic Personnel | The University of New Mexico (unm.edu)
Pre Master | |
Appt % | Monthly Rate |
50% | $2,086.07 |
25% | $1,043.05 |
Post Masters and Pursuing Doctoral Degree | |
Appt % | Monthly Rate |
50% | $2,294.81 |
25% | $1,147.40 |
*The CBA Article 5.D defines the RA minimum salary for a 18-week term. The rates have been annualized to determine the equivalent monthly rate.
PROJECT ASSISTANTS
Contract Terms (Length) :: Office for Academic Personnel | The University of New Mexico (unm.edu)
Project assistants are paid hourly.
Contract Type | Minimum Hourly Pay Rate |
Pre-Masters | $23.14/hour |
Post-Masters and pursuing Doctoral Degree | $25.45/hour |
