Understanding HGSU-UAW Compensation

What is Harvard’s current compensation proposal for salaried PhD students? 

In August 2026, Harvard again increased its compensation proposal for salaried and hourly student workers. Harvard’s proposal directly addresses a concern raised by HGSU-UAW related to pay parity between salaried Teaching Fellows and Research Assistants and adds an additional year to the contract. Highlights of Harvard’s latest proposal are set forth below.  For more details, please see the compensation proposal contract language.

Salaried Student Workers 

  • Establishes a contractual minimum salary for RAs with no distinction between disciplines; 
  • Provides a 13.85% increase to the contractual minimums for TFs and RAs over the life of the contract 
    • 6.1% increase* upon ratification of the contract (for salaried RAs this brings the new minimum annual salary for all disciplines to $51,972)
    • 2.5% on July 1, 2027
    • 2.5% on July 1, 2028
    • 2.75% on July 1, 2029
  • Teaching Fellows enrolled in a PhD program will receive an additional salary increase upon ratification to bring their contractual minimum salary rate into parity with that of Research Assistants. This additional increase addresses HGSU’s concerns regarding the financial security of PhD students who are teaching beyond their years of guaranteed funding.

Hourly Student Workers

  • For all hourly student workers, a 13.6% increase to the contractual hourly minimum over the life of the contract (current minimum is $21.00)
    • $22.50/hour upon ratification of the contract (7.1% increase) 
    • $23.00/hour on July 1, 2027 (2.2% increase) 
    • $23.50/hour on July 1, 2028 (2.2% increase)
    • $24.00/hour on July 1, 2029 (2.1% increase) 

In general, what is the compensation and benefits for Harvard PhD students?

Currently, PhD students receive compensation and benefits totaling at least $425,000 over a minimum of five years. This includes:

  • grants covering full tuition ($31,000 per year)
  • fully subsidized health insurance ($6,108 per year)
  • living expense support (approximately $50,000 per year)
  • other benefits  

For context, approximately 60% of HGSU-UAW members are PhD students. 

What is living expense support?

Living expense support, guaranteed to be approximately $50,000 a year, is provided to PhD students through stipends and guaranteed part-time employment as Teaching Fellows or Research Assistants.  

What is the current pay structure for Teaching Fellows? 

Teaching Fellows (TFs) teach part time under the supervision of course heads (who hold formal teaching appointments) as an integral part of their training for their PhD. They assist faculty with course instruction, running sections, holding office hours, and grading. 

Under the current contract, the Teaching Fellows salary rate is:

  • Junior Teaching Fellow: $5,860 per section (7 hours per week)
  • Senior Teaching Fellow: $6,575 (7 hours per week) 

Part-time, salaried work as a Teaching Fellow is a portion of the $50,000 Living Expense Support provided to PhD students, typically in years three and four of the PhD program. Student workers in these years ordinarily teach two sections per semester but can opt to teach more, in accordance with University policies.  

For PhD students in years three and four, for example, working as Teaching Fellows, the Living Expense Support is:

  • $23,440 - $26,300 (salary - 14 hours per week teaching 2 classes for 2 semesters)
  • $26,650 - $23,700 (stipend) 

What is the current pay structure for Research Assistants? 

Research Assistants are appointed on an annual basis to perform research work under the supervision of a faculty member/principal investigator. Under the current contract, research assistant rates range from $42,480 to $47,076 depending upon discipline (life sciences, physical sciences, other), with an average rate of $44,912. Research assistants work 20 hours per week. Like Teaching Fellows, Research Assistants are guaranteed $50,000 in Living Expense Support.