Graduate Research Assistants

GRAs are added to payroll through Oracle. ORSP typically processes the GRAs on grant accounts. The following information is typically needed to process a GRA: name, email, student ID #, start and end date of employment, and FTE (# of hours per week). All new GRAs must complete a payroll packet in the Office of Human Resources. A student must be enrolled in the required number of classes to be eligible to be a GRA. Complete rules are on the Graduate School's website.

2023-2024 Pay Scale for Graduate Research Assistants

swipe to see the full table⇨

Individual programs may set specific wage schedules for their operations using the ranges provided below. Programs should consider the student's level (masters or doctoral), complexity of the graduate assistant work, and the knowledge required to perform a job when determining wage rates for graduate assistant positions. In addition, supervisors should consider the issue of pay equity with current student incumbents. Programs may also reference 2021-2022 salary ranges for master's level and doctoral level GRAs when determining the base salary. The 2023-2024 salary ranges shown below are based on a 9-month appointment with an FTE of .50 (20 hours per week).

swipe to see the full table⇨

Classification Levels	Salary Range
Graduate Assistant I –Generally, students at the masters’ level meet this level of classification. Students perform work requiring a combination of basic skills and some experience. Work is guided by applicable work principles and standardized techniques.	$9,977 - $13,648
Graduate Assistant II – Students at the masters’ or doctoral level meet this level of classification. Students perform work requiring training that is more specialized, which usually requires experience and/or being on the job. Minimal level of supervision received. Work is analytical, technical, and based on acquired skills.	$11,868 - $14,798
Graduate Assistant III – Generally, students at the doctoral or terminal degree level only meet this classification. Students perform specialized duties such as student researchers requiring specialized training and may require significant experience. Students work with greater independence than lower level positions and receive a minimal level of supervision. Students may act as lead to other student employees. These are considered specialized student positions.	$12,165 - $17,023

Appointment Dates

Academic Year: September 1 - May 31 (9 months)
Fall Semester: September 1 - January 15 (4.5 months)
Spring Semester: January 16 - May 31 (4.5 months)
Summer: June 1 - August 31 (3 months)

Page last updated 9:15 AM, April 8, 2024