Preparing for student employment

Standard wage scale

Student Employment offers a wide range of positions, which require different degrees of skill or experience.

The student wage scale starts at $14.35/hour and pay rates should not exceed $50.00/hour.

Four wage levels with different pay ranges have been provided below. Federal Work-Study and Hourly employment share the same wage levels and pay ranges. Wage placement must be in relation to the type of duties performed and in consideration of other student worker wage rates in similar jobs.

Students working in states/locations outside of Arizona may require pay rates above the Standard Wage Scale minimum. Please click here to see current State Minimum wage rates. If you have any questions on setting rates in situations like this, please reach out to an ASU Compensation Partner at cfo.asu.edu/compensation.

Job Code Level	Job Level Descriptions	FY2026 Student Employment Standard Wage Scale Effective July 1, 2025
		Arizona		California		District of Columbia
		Min Pay Rate	Max Pay Rate	Min Pay Rate	Max Pay Rate	Min Pay Rate	Max Pay Rate
		I	Duties are of a routine and simple nature; entry level. Requires direct supervision with relatively specific instructions. Little or no training or experience is required.	$14.35	$15.05	$17.87	$18.72	$17.95	$18.81
II	Duties are varied and less routine and involve a moderate degree of responsibility and judgment. May lead or coordinate activities of other student employees. Requires previous knowledge or skill and/or equivalent experience or training.	$14.75	$16.22	$18.35	$20.14	$18.44	$20.25
III	Duties are technical and complex and involve a high degree of responsibility and judgment. May supervise or direct activities of other student employees. A significant amount of specialized training or experience is required.	$15.62	$18.62	$19.41	$23.04	$19.51	$23.19
IV	Duties are highly technical and/or complex and involve a significant degree of responsibility and judgment. This classification is limited to teaching/research aide type work or those positions requiring highly specialized skills and/or technical knowledge.	$17.40	$50.50	$21.57	$61.67	$21.69	$62.32

Exceptions

Please note that many states have local/city minimums that exceed the state level. In Arizona, Flagstaff has a higher minimum than the rest of the state. California has over 30 local/city minimums that exceed the current state minimum of $15.50 per hour. Please see current state and major locality wage minimums.

The Student Wage Scale includes all student hourly positions. It is not applicable for Research/Teaching Assistant, Internship, Fellowship or Mentorship opportunities as those positions are overseen by the Graduate College in accordance with the appropriate recruitment policies and procedures.