Ever wondered what your professor actually makes? Or maybe you're eyeing a job at Arizona State University and want to know if that "competitive salary" they promised is actually just... average.
Finding the asu salary database 2025 shouldn't feel like a spy mission. But honestly, it kinda does. While ASU is a public institution and this data is technically public record, it's not exactly sitting on a shiny, easy-to-find dashboard on the home page. You've got to know where to look, what the numbers actually represent, and why the "base pay" you see might not be the whole story.
The Reality of the ASU Salary Database 2025
Let's get the big thing out of the way: salaries for state employees in Arizona are public. That includes everyone from President Michael Crow down to the graduate teaching assistants. For the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the data is typically compiled into an operating budget or requested via public records by organizations like The State Press or Arizona Luminaria.
The 2025 numbers show a specific trend. Salaries are projected to increase by about 3.5% across the board, according to the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). But that's a "catch-up" move. Historically, ASU salaries have lagged slightly behind peer institutions, and the university is currently trying to close that gap.
Who makes the most?
It's probably no surprise that the highest earners aren't the ones teaching your Intro to Psych class.
- Athletics: Head coaches like Kenny Dillingham (Football) and Bobby Hurley (Basketball) are often at the top, frequently clearing the $2 million to $4 million mark when bonuses are factored in.
- Administration: President Michael Crow’s total compensation package often sits comfortably above $1 million.
- Specialized Faculty: Deans and high-level researchers in STEM or Business fields often earn between $250,000 and $500,000.
How to Actually Find the Data
If you're looking for a specific name, you won't find a "Search" bar on the main ASU site. Instead, you usually have to rely on third-party databases that have already done the heavy lifting of filing a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request.
The State Press, ASU’s student-run paper, has historically maintained one of the most user-friendly versions of this database. They usually update it annually. If you want the raw, unedited 2025 fiscal year data, you can sometimes find it buried in the Arizona State University Operating Budget books. These used to be physical books in the library, but now they're mostly digital PDFs that are hundreds of pages long.
Decoding the Pay Grades
ASU uses a "Job Architecture" framework. This is basically a way of bucket-ing jobs so they can keep pay relatively fair. If you see a job listed as a "Grade 6" or "Grade 10," that corresponds to a specific pay range.
For the 2025 cycle, a Grade 2 (the lower end) might start around $34,320, while a Grade 20 (executive level) can top out over $650,000. Most staff positions fall somewhere in the middle, between Grade 5 and Grade 12.
| Grade | Wage Type | Minimum | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Annual | $42,282 | $52,851 |
| 10 | Annual | $75,540 | $98,201 |
| 15 | Annual | $164,141 | $213,383 |
Keep in mind that "Midpoint" is what ASU considers a "market-competitive" rate. If you're being paid below the midpoint, the university's goal is usually to get you there eventually, though budget constraints often make that a slow process.
Why the Database is Often Misleading
Here is what most people get wrong when looking at the asu salary database 2025. The number you see is often just the Institutional Base Salary (IBS).
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It doesn't always include:
- Stipends: Extra pay for taking on a department chair role or a special project.
- Summer Pay: Many faculty members are on 9-month contracts. If they do research or teach in the summer, they get paid extra, which might not show up in the main database.
- ERE (Employee Related Expenses): This is the "hidden" part of your pay—health insurance, retirement contributions, and tuition waivers. At ASU, these benefits are actually quite beefy, often adding another 25% to 35% of value on top of your base pay.
- Outside Income: Professors are often allowed to consult or write books on the side. That money isn't public because it doesn't come from the state.
The "Unmet Need" Problem
The Arizona Board of Regents recently noted that there’s a massive "unmet salary need" for Arizona’s public universities—somewhere in the neighborhood of $248 million for FY 2027. This means that even with the 2025 increases, many employees are still making less than they would at similar universities in states like California or Texas.
For you, this means that if you're negotiating a salary at ASU in 2025, you have some leverage if you can show that the market rate for your role is significantly higher than what the database shows for your peers.
Actionable Steps for Using the Database
If you're using this info to plan your career or negotiate a raise, don't just look at one name. Look at the whole department.
- Search by Title, Not Just Name: This helps you see the range for "Program Coordinator" or "Assistant Professor" across different colleges. You'll notice that a coordinator in the W.P. Carey School of Business might make more than one in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies.
- Check the Hire Date: Newer hires often have higher base salaries than people who have been there 10 years because of "salary compression."
- Look for 9-month vs. 12-month: If a salary looks low, check if it's for the academic year (9 months) or the full fiscal year (12 months). A $60,000 9-month salary is actually "more" than a $60,000 12-month salary.
To get the most current 2025 data, your best bet is to check the State Press Salary Database or the Open The Books Arizona portal. Both update as the state releases new records. If you're an employee, you can also look up your own specific pay details and "Job Profile" through the Workday portal under the Compensation tab.