Salary Rates beginning January 2024

Minimum Salaries

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.

Semester Contract: Monday of the week before classes start through last day of the semester as defined by the University Registrar.

Summer Term Contract: Monday of the week before classes start through last day of the term as defined by the University Registrar.

In rare instances, the Office for Academic Personnel may approve contract terms that differ from the standard described in this article. Contracts that differ from the contract period and appointment percentages described above will be pro-rated

Teaching Assistants

*The CBA Article 5.D defines the minimum salary in terms of a 18-week term. As TA 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 = 1/22/2024
• Contract End Date = 5/10/2024 (16 weeks)
• Number of Pay Periods = 5 (January – May)
• Level = Post Masters
• FTE = 50%
• Minimum Monthly Pay Rate = ($538.33 x 16 weeks) / 5 pay periods = $1722.66

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.

Graduate Assistants

*The CBA Article 5.D defines the minimum salary for a 18-week term. As 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 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 = 1/22/2024
• Contract End Date = 5/10/2024 (16 weeks)
• Number of Pay Periods = 5 (January – May)
• Level = Post Masters
• FTE = 50%
• Minimum Monthly Pay Rate = ($499.17x 16 weeks)/ 5 pay periods = $1,597.34/Month

Research Assistants

*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