FAQs for January 18, 2026 Compensation Increases
Effective Dates and Eligibility
When are the salary increases effective?
All increases will be effective January 18th which will be reflected in the February 13, 2026 paycheck.
Who is eligible for the increase to the new minimum wage of $18/hour?
All Lawrence campus University Support Staff (USS) and Unclassified Professional Staff (UPS) employees (both regular and temporary), regardless of hire date, will be raised to the minimum of $18/hour ($37,440 annually) effective January 18th.
Who is eligible for the increase to the new salary minimum of their respective salary grade?
All regular USS and UPS employees regardless of hire date will be raised to the new salary grade minimum assigned to their job code on the effective date. Temporary UPS employees are not within different salary grades, and therefore salary grade adjustments are not applicable.
Who is eligible for the 1% increase?
To be eligible for the 1% increase, staff employees must have been hired on or before September 30, 2025 and not be a direct report to the Chancellor. If you receive at least a 1% increase from being brought up to the new minimum or compression adjustments, you will not receive an additional 1%.
Will temporary employees also receive a 1% increase?
Yes, temporary employees will either receive an increase to $18/hour or 1%, whichever is greater.
Can a department provide self-funded merit?
No, additional adjustments will not be allowed.
What if I received a recent increase or promotion after September 30, 2025, will I still receive the 1% increase?
Yes, employees that received recent increases or promotions are eligible for the 1% increase as long as they were on payroll as of September 30, 2025.
How will an employee determine their new compensation?
Changes to compensation will be available in the HR/Pay system on January 26, 2026. Employees can find their updated salary in Employee Self Service by clicking on the “My Compensation” tile and reviewing “Compensation History”.
Compression Adjustments
What is salary compression?
Salary compression occurs when employees with different levels of skills, experience, or time in position are paid nearly the same.
Will there be salary compression adjustments?
Yes, there will be salary compression adjustments for eligible regular USS and UPS staff positions. Temporary UPS staff will not receive any compression adjustments.
How are compression adjustments calculated?
Compression adjustments are calculated by taking the minimum salary range of a job and adding a percentage to that based on the employees’ time in the position. For each year in the position an employee receives a 2% increase, up to a total increase of 10% (5 years). For example, if an employee has been in a job for 3 years and their current salary is not at least 6% above the minimum, that employee would receive the difference as a compression adjustment.
Is there a maximum compression adjustment allowed?
Yes, the maximum percentage is 10% of the minimum (5 years in position) and will not exceed $10,000.
Why didn’t I receive a compression adjustment?
If you didn’t receive a compression adjustment, that means your salary is already at or above the calculated minimum based on your years in the position (as described above). For example, if you have been in your position for 5 years, your salary is already at or above 10% of the minimum salary grade of your job code.
Minimum and Maximum Salary Ranges
Will employees be allowed to exceed the new maximums?
Beginning January 18, 2026, the university will no longer allow increases or hires above the range maximum.
What if I am already above the maximum salary for my job?
If you are above the new maximum, you are allowed to stay at that rate. However, any future merit increases you are eligible for will be paid as a lump sum and will not be added to base salary for as long as you are above the maximum. Ranges will be reviewed annually to determine if ranges should be increased, so minimums and maximums will be adjusted as needed.
I am above the maximum salary range for my position, will I receive the 1% increase?
If you meet the eligibility criteria, the 1% increase will be paid as a lump sum instead of being added to your base.
If I receive a lump sum payment, when will I receive it?
The lump sum payment will be reflected on the February 13 paycheck.
Are employees allowed to be hired below the new minimum rate defined by the salary structure?
No, all employees must be hired at or above the new minimums assigned to each job. There are no exceptions.
What if I have a current posting that is advertised below the new minimum?
Postings will be updated to reflect new salary minimums. Any offers that are extended with an effective date after January 18th, 2026 will also need to be at least at the new minimum.
System Questions
How are the increases being entered into HR/Pay?
HR will be loading all increases centrally. We will be working with Finance and Budget Officers to validate the load and confirm funding allocations
A funding change is needed to support the approved adjustment. What actions need to occur?
Please reach out to the HR Transactions Team or HR Partner to assist with processing a PAF by January 28, 2026 to ensure that the funding distribution is updated.
When will the new rates be reflected in the system?
While all increases will be effective January 18, 2026, they will likely not be reflected in HR/Pay until January 26, 2026. Employees can find their updated salary in Employee Self Service by clicking on the “My Compensation” tile and reviewing “Compensation History”.
Where can I see my new salary grade and range?
The new grades and ranges will be reflected on the job code table (Job Title Table | Human Resources) by January 19th, 2026.
How will the salary increases be funded?
For positions funded through general use (GU) allocated funds, FY26 cash funds will be provided centrally. The FY27 base funds will be incorporated into the final FY27 allocation. Additional details on the timing of these allocations will be shared by the Budget Office. For all other non-GU allocated funds, any increases must be covered by the unit’s existing fiscal resources.
Questions related to Faculty Positions
Will Faculty be eligible for the 1% increase?
Faculty in non-union covered positions will be eligible for the 1% increase on eligible components of pay, if hired on or before September 30, 2025, and are not a direct report to the Chancellor. Increases will be effective on January 18, 2026. Adjustments will be reflected on the February 13, 2026 paycheck.
Increases for UAKU, United Academics of the University of Kansas, covered faculty positions (temporary and regular) are subject to collective bargaining and are still in the process of negotiation.
Questions related to Student Positions
Are students eligible for the 1% increase?
No. Student increases are applied biannually according to university procedure outlined on Student Hourly Compensation | Human Resources, as defined through collective bargaining for union covered GTA positions. All 3G increases should be approved by the budgetary authority and submitted via the 3G hiring workflow.
Does the salary structure and $18 hourly minimum apply to student positions?
No, students are not included in the staff structure. For additional information on student hourly compensation, please visit Student Hourly Compensation | Human Resources. For any additional questions, please contact hrdept@ku.edu.