Graduate Assistant compensation
Graduate assistant base stipends
Effective beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year. Base salary amounts assume a 12-month, 100% FTE contract. Prorated salaries assume a 12-month contract at the FTE listed at the beginning of each row. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) on a 10-month assistantship are paid monthly during the Fall and Spring semesters.
College of Engineering
Effective January 1, 2026. Applies to all graduate research assistants (GRA). Base salary amounts assume a 12-month, 100% FTE contract. Prorated salaries assume a 12-month contract at the FTE listed at the beginning of each row.
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, minimum for all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,150 | $55,200.00 | $13,800.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,725 | $55,200.00 | $20,700.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,300 | $55,200.00 | $27,600.00 |
Starting August 1, 2026, minimum stipends for graduate research assistants will be:
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, minimum for all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,200 | $57,600.00 | $14,400.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,800 | $57,600.00 | $21,600.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,400 | $57,600.00 | $28,800.00 |
Starting August 1, 2027, minimum stipends for graduate research assistants will be:
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, minimum for all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,250 | $60,000.00 | $15,000.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,875 | $60,000.00 | $22,500.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,500 | $60,000.00 | $30,000.00 |
*Starting July 1, 2025, all new College of Engineering grant submissions which include funding for graduate research assistants must budget at this level.
**Starting July 1, 2026, all new College of Engineering grant submissions which include funding for graduate research assistants must budget at this level.
Graduate Teaching Assistants & Graduate Assistants-Other
See University Graduate assistant base stipends for Master’s programs and Doctoral programs in STEM.
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, minimum for all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,050 | $50,400.00 | $12,600.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,575 | $50,400.00 | $18,900.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,100 | $50,400.00 | $25,200.00 |
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,075 | $51,600.00 | $12,900.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,612.50 | $51,600.00 | $19,350.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,150 | $51,600.00 | $25,800.00 |
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (Base salary, all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,100 | $52,800.00 | $13,200.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,650 | $52,800.00 | $19,800.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,200 | $52,800.00 | $26,400.00 |
College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources
Effective in the 2026-2027 academic year (beginning August 1, 2026). Applies to all graduate research assistants (GRAs), regardless whether enrolled in a masters' or doctoral program. Base salary amounts assume a 12-month, 100% FTE contract. Prorated salaries assume a 12-month contract at the FTE listed at the beginning of each row.
- Graduate Research Assistants*
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, minimum for all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,200 | $57,600.00 | $14,400.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,800 | $57,600.00 | $21,600.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,400 | $57,600.00 | $28,800.00 |
Starting August 1, 2027, minimum stipends for all graduate research assistants will be:
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, minimum for all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,250 | $60,000.00 | $15,000.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,875 | $60,000.00 | $22,500.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,500 | $60,000.00 | $30,000.00 |
*Starting July 1, 2025, all new CABNR grant submission which include funding for graduate research assistants must budget at minimum at this level.
**Starting July 1, 2026, all new CABNR grant submission which include funding for graduate research assistants must budget at minimum at this level.
Researchers should work with CABNR’s Coordinator for Research Grants (Kim Higgins) as necessary to adjust proposals. Note that the values above are base levels. Maximum stipends for graduate students are substantially higher. They are listed on the relevant HR website.
Graduate Teaching Assistants & Graduate Assistants-other
See University Graduate assistant base stipends for Master’s programs and Doctoral programs in STEM.
Effective January 1, 2026. Applies to all graduate research assistants (GRA) employed by the School of Medicine. Monthly salary amounts assume a 50% FTE/20 hours per week GRA appointment. Salaries for different FTE are prorated. Base salary amounts assume a 12-month, 100% FTE contract. Prorated salaries assume a 12-month contract.
| Predoctoral tiers (pay rates, 50% FTE) | Program year | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial tier | 1 | $2,200 | $52,800 | $26,400 |
| Intermediate tier | 2–3 | $2,602 | $62,448 | $31,224 |
| Advanced tier | 4+ | $2,732 | $65,568 | $32,784 |
The salary schedule is divided into three tiers: Initial, Intermediate and Advanced.
The Initial Tier applies to all eligible students until they pass their comprehensive exam or qualifying exam as demonstrated by a satisfactory grade and notification by the Program Director.
The Immediate Tier applies first, following the semester in which the student passes their comprehensive exam or qualifying exam.
The Advanced Tier applies to all students who have reached at least their fourth year of study from their initial enrollment in their doctoral program, and who have also completed their comprehensive exam or qualifying exam no later than the prior semester. Doctoral students will remain at the Advanced pay rate for the remainder of their employment as Graduate Research Assistant.
If a doctoral student changes degrees, the salary progression outlined here may no longer apply. For students who are changing from a doctoral degree to a master’s degree, the present salary schedule no longer applies. For students who are switching from one doctoral degree to another, the appropriate salary tier depends on whether they have passed the comprehensive exam or qualifying exam in their new program.
Approval and Payment
Approval of Intermediate and Advanced tier salaries will be determined by the Program Director and Chair of the hiring department. The Program Director will prepare a memo to Human Resources to indicate that the student has completed the comprehensive exam or qualifying exam (Intermediate tier) and has reached the fourth year of studies (Advanced tier).
Payment of the Intermediate /Advanced tier will begin in the semester following completion of the comprehensive exam or qualifying exam.
Uniformity
This salary schedule applies uniformly to all doctoral students employed as GRAs. The University’s provisions concerning the maximum stipend for all graduate assistants is suspended for GRAs at the UNR School of Medicine.
College of Engineering
Effective January 1, 2026. Applies to all graduate research assistants (GRA). Base salary amounts assume a 12-month, 100% FTE contract. Prorated salaries assume a 12-month contract at the FTE listed at the beginning of each row.
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $900 | $43,200.00 | $10,800.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,350 | $43,200.00 | $16,200.00 |
| 50% (20) | $1,800 | $43,200.00 | $21,600.00 |
Starting August 1, 2026, minimum stipends for graduate research assistants will be:
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $950 | $45,600.00 | $11,400.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,425 | $45,600.00 | $17,100.00 |
| 50% (20) | $1,900 | $45,600.00 | $22,800.00 |
Starting August 1, 2027, minimum stipends for graduate research assistants will be:
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,000 | $48,000.00 | $12,000.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,500 | $48,000.00 | $18,000.00 |
| 50% (20) | $2,000 | $48,000.00 | $24,000.00 |
*Starting July 1, 2025, all new College of Engineering grant submissions which include funding for graduate research assistants must budget at this level.
**Starting July 1, 2026, all new College of Engineering grant submissions which include funding for graduate research assistants must budget at this level.
Graduate Teaching Assistants & Graduate Assistants-Other
See University Graduate assistant base stipends for Master’s programs and Doctoral programs in STEM.
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $850 | $40,800.00 | $10,200.00 |
| 37.5% (15) | $1,275 | $40,800.00 | $15,300.00 |
| 50% (20) | $1,700 | $40,800.00 | $20,400.00 |
| FTE (hours) | Monthly pay | Amount (base salary, maximum for all disciplines) | Prorated 12-month salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25% (10) | $1,573.37 | $75,521.68 | $18,880.42 |
| 37.5% (15) | $2,360.05 | $75,521.68 | $28,320.63 |
| 50% (20) | $3,146.74 | $75,521.68 | $37,760.84 |