Salaries at UCR

At the University of California, Riverside (UCR), located in Riverside, California, salary expectations for faculty and staff are determined by a variety of factors including role, academic rank, years of experience, and field of expertise. As part of the University of California system, UCR adheres to structured pay scales that are often tied to public sector guidelines. The university provides a level of transparency by publishing salary bands and ranges for many positions through the UC system's public salary database, which allows prospective employees and the public to access general compensation information for different roles. These ranges are periodically updated to reflect cost-of-living adjustments and collective bargaining agreements, particularly for unionized staff and faculty.

• Assistant Professor: Typical salary range is $74,000–$90,000 USD annually, depending on the department and initial research funding. Entry-level roles may start at the lower end with potential increases based on tenure track progress.
• Associate Professor: Average salary range is $90,000–$120,000 USD per year, often reflecting mid-career status, publication record, and teaching load. Additional grants or stipends may apply.
• Full Professor: Salaries typically range from $120,000–$200,000+ USD annually, with higher earnings for senior faculty in high-demand fields like engineering or medicine. Bonuses or endowed chair positions may supplement income.
• Administrative Staff (e.g., Program Coordinator): Ranges from $50,000–$70,000 USD per year, influenced by experience and specific departmental budgets.
• Lecturer (Non-Tenure Track): Salaries often fall between $60,000–$80,000 USD annually, with variability based on teaching load and temporary contract status.

Salaries at UCR are generally competitive within the public university sector, particularly when compared to other institutions in the UC system. Compensation often aligns with state benchmarks for public employees, ensuring a degree of fairness and predictability. Progression through academic ranks typically results in salary increases, though these are contingent on performance evaluations, research output, and budget availability. For non-academic staff, career advancement may be slower, with raises tied to seniority or reclassification of roles. Overall, UCR's commitment to transparency through the UC system's salary data provides a useful resource for understanding compensation, though individual negotiations and external funding can influence final figures.