Low ISU teacher pay stirs fears of losing top talent
None of Iowa's three state universities ranks high among its peers in terms of faculty salaries. According to regents data:
- UNI, where faculty are unionized, has average salaries that are in the middle of the pack, averaging $70,200 in fiscal 2007-08.
- The University of Iowa is less competitive among its peers, with an annual average salary of $93,500 in 2007-08.
- ISU's average annual salary of $87,400 ranks last among a group of 11 land-grant universities with similar programs. Salaries make up 87 percent of ISU's budget.
According to the most recent Iowa Workforce Development data, the average annual salary of state workers was $53,768.
The low average salaries are the result of years of below-average salary increases, which are based on merit but limited by how much money the state gives the universities each year, officials said.
States around the country are eyeing faculty salaries as a place to cut costs.
I've posted a graph below which compares faculty to the rest of Iowa. While it's perfectly fair to compare salaries to other Universities, you also have to keep in mind what taxpayers are making, since these are the people that pay your salary and send their children to your University. I'd also point out that the cost of living is very low in Iowa compared to other states and Iowa City, Ames and Cedar Falls are very small towns in comparison to other cities where salaries are being compared. I don't think faculty are overpaid but we certainly need to point out a few things when they start whining about pay.
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