Ever wondered what your favorite professor actually pulls in? Or maybe you're a staff member trying to figure out if you're being lowballed compared to the person in the cubicle next door. It's a weird feeling, snooping through public records, but let's be real—we’ve all done it.
The arizona state university salary database is one of those things that sounds like a dry government spreadsheet but actually functions like a neighborhood gossip rag for the academic world. Because ASU is a public institution, every single dime paid to employees is public record. From President Michael Crow’s massive Seven-figure compensation package down to the graduate teaching assistant making just enough for rent and ramen, it's all out there.
But here's the thing. Most people look at these numbers and get the wrong idea. They see a "salary" and assume that's the whole story. Honestly, it's way more complicated than just a number on a screen.
Why the Arizona State University salary database is a goldmine (and a trap)
If you head over to The State Press—the student-led news organization that’s been the MVP of tracking this data since 2017—you’ll find a searchable interface that feels a bit like a forbidden directory. They recently updated it with 2024 data, covering over 19,500 employees.
It’s tempting to just sort by "highest" and get angry. You’ll see names like Kenneth John Dillingham (Head Football Coach) at the top, making nearly $4 million. Or Robert Matthew Hurley (Men’s Basketball) hovering around $2.9 million. It makes for a great headline, doesn't it?
But if you’re using the arizona state university salary database to gauge your own career path, looking at the outliers is a mistake. The real story is in the "middle." For example, an Academic Success Advisor might be listed at $45,000, while a Senior Business Intelligence Analyst is pulling in $53,620. These are the numbers that actually reflect the day-to-day economy of Tempe and downtown Phoenix.
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The "Hidden" Numbers You Aren't Seeing
There are a few massive caveats when you’re digging through these records. I've talked to people who were shocked to find their own names in there with "incorrect" numbers. Here is why the data often looks "off":
- State vs. Grant Funding: This is huge. A lot of research faculty get paid from state funds and private or federal grants. Sometimes the public database only reflects the state portion. If a professor looks like they’re making $80k but lives in a mansion, they’re probably pulling another $100k from a NASA or NIH grant that isn't always captured in a basic public records request.
- The "FTE" Factor: FTE stands for Full-Time Equivalent. If someone is listed at $30,000 but their FTE is 0.5, they’re actually on a $60,000 salary scale but working part-time.
- Fiscal vs. Academic Year: Faculty often work on 9-month contracts. If the database shows $90,000, that might be for 9 months of work, not 12. If they teach summer sessions, they get paid extra, which might show up as a "bonus" or not appear in the base salary at all.
Comparing ASU to the rest of the pack
The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) releases a "Personnel Report" every year that puts these numbers in a pretty sobering context. While we see the big numbers for coaches, the 2024-2025 reports basically admit that ASU is struggling to keep up with the market.
ASU actually ranks 12th among its peer institutions for faculty salaries. According to the 2024 report, the university would need to hike salaries by somewhere between 9.2% and 14.3% just to hit the average of what similar universities are paying.
So, when you see a professor on the arizona state university salary database making $120,000, keep in mind that their counterpart at the University of Washington or Ohio State might be making $140,000 for the exact same job.
What about the "little guys"?
We focus on the deans and the coaches, but the database shows a massive floor of workers. You’ll find Customer Service Specialists at $42,848 or 3D Artists at $103,000.
One of the most interesting things is seeing the rise of IT roles. As ASU pushes further into the "Global Futures" and online learning space, the salaries for Lead Software Engineers (often over $120,000) are starting to rival senior faculty. It shows where the university’s priorities—and its budget—are shifting.
How to actually use this data for yourself
If you're an employee or a prospective hire, don't just browse. Use the arizona state university salary database as a negotiation tool.
- Find your "Market Match": Don't just look at your own department. Look at the title across the whole university. ASU is decentralized. An "Administrative Assistant" in the Engineering school might be paid significantly more than one in the Liberal Arts college because the budget buckets are deeper.
- Check the "Hire Date": Most databases include the original hire date. If you see someone with your same title making $15k more, check how long they’ve been there. ASU rarely does massive cost-of-living adjustments, so "salary inversion" (where new hires make more than veterans) is a real problem you can spot.
- Look for the "Revised" Files: Errors happen. The State Press had to issue a "2024 revised" file recently because a professor's salary was listed incorrectly. Always cross-reference with the official ABOR personnel reports if the number seems suspiciously low or high.
Honestly, the arizona state university salary database is about more than just being nosy. It’s about accountability. When the university announces a new multi-million dollar building but the median staff salary hasn't budged in three years, the data gives people the receipts they need to ask why.
If you're looking for the most current numbers, your best bet is to check the Watching Adams archive or the State Press interactive tools. They take the raw, messy CSV files from the state and turn them into something you can actually read without getting a headache.
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re ready to dive in, here is how you should approach it.
First, identify your specific job family using the ASU "Compensation" site to find your pay grade (usually 1-20). Once you know your grade, go to the arizona state university salary database and filter by that grade rather than just your title. This gives you a much broader look at what the "budget" for your level of responsibility actually is.
Next, compare the "Annual Wages" to the "Base Salary." If there’s a big gap, that person is likely getting "Alternative Secondary Compensation" (ASC), which is common for administrators and department chairs. This is "extra" money for extra duties. If you're being asked to take on more work without an ASC, the database is your proof that others are getting paid for that same burden.
Finally, keep an eye on the 2026 projections. ABOR has already noted that salary increases are expected to remain flat at around 3.5%, barely keeping pace with inflation. Use this context when you're looking at your next performance review. Knowing the "ceiling" for your role in the database prevents you from wasting time asking for a raise the department literally isn't allowed to give.