Benchmark Jobs

Benchmark jobs were used in collecting salary market data for building the university compensation plan. By definition, benchmark jobs are those with a clear and consistent definition in the relevant labor market, for which reliable market data could be collected. University job classifications were identified as benchmark jobs to represent each of the job functions and pay levels.

Benchmark Jobs by Pay Level

Job Code Function Family University Classification
PAA1 Administration Administrative Services Administrative Services Coordinator
PJA1 Behavioral Health Behavioral Health Professional Behavioral Health Coordinator
PBH1 Business & Finance Procurement & Inventory Management Services Supply Chain Associate
PVC2 Health Care Revenue Cycle Coding Representative
PVC1 Health Care Revenue Cycle Revenue Cycle Representative
PYB1 Hospitality Food Preparation Sous Chef
PGA1 Human Resources HR Administration Human Resource Associate
PMD1 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Designer Designer
PMW1 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Writer/Editor Associate Writer
PRH1 Research Research Data Collection & Management Health Records Associate
PHC2 Scientific Services Environmental Monitoring Environmental Analyst

Job Code Function Family University Classification
PCA1 Academic Support Academic Advising Academic Advisor
PCD1 Academic Support Admissions & Enrollment Services Admissions & Enrollment Services Counselor/Evaluator
PCF1 Academic Support Financial Aid Financial Aid Counselor
PCR1 Academic Support Registrar Services Registrar Services Specialist
PAA2 Administration Administrative Services Administrative Services Specialist
PAB1 Administration Business Analyst Business Analysis Coordinator
PAE1 Administration Project Management Project Coordinator
PAF1 Administration Quality & Operational Improvement Quality & Operational Improvement Coordinator
PEA2 Arts, Culture & Entertainment Collections Management Collections/Exhibitions Coordinator
PSB1 Athletics Athletic Trainer Assistant Athletic Trainer
PNB1 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Compliance Compliance Coordinator
PNC1 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Legal Paralegal/Legal Assistant
PJA2 Behavioral Health Behavioral Health Professional Behavioral Health Consultant
PBF1 Business & Finance Finance & Accounting Accountant
PBF2 Business & Finance Finance & Accounting Financial Analyst
PBH2 Business & Finance Procurement & Inventory Management Services Supply Chain Coordinator
PBP1 Business & Finance Purchasing Purchasing Agent
PWC1 Engineering & Architecture Engineer Engineer
PWA2 Engineering & Architecture Project Manager E&A Project Specialist
PFB1 Facilities Operations Facility Administration Facility Coordinator
PVC4 Health Care Revenue Cycle Coding Coordinator
PYA1 Hospitality Catering, Dining & Event Services Catering, Dining & Event Services Coordinator
PGA2 Human Resources HR Administration Human Resource Coordinator
PGB1 Human Resources HR Specialty Services Human Resource Specialist
PIA1 Information Technology Applications Development & Support Application Programmer/Analyst
PIB2 Information Technology Communications Infrastructure Engineer Communications Infrastructure Engineer
PID1 Information Technology Database Administration & Support Data Analyst
PID2 Information Technology Database Administration & Support Database Administrator
PIC1 Information Technology IT Support Services IT Support Analyst
PIN1 Information Technology Network Engineer Associate Network Engineer
PIF1 Information Technology Systems Administration & Programming Systems Analyst
PLB1 Libraries University Librarians Librarian
PMA1 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Academic/Scientific Editor Academic/Scientific Writer/Editor
PMP1 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Communication/Constituent Relations Communications Coordinator
PMP2 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Communication/Constituent Relations Constituent Relations Coordinator
PMD2 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Designer Creative Coordinator
PMW2 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Writer/Editor Writer/Editor
PRG1 Research Pharmacy Quality Control & Development Assistant Chemist
PRK1 Research Research Professional Research Assistant
PRM1 Research Research Support Research Support Coordinator
PHD1 Scientific Services Environmental Health & Safety Safety Coordinator
PHB1 Scientific Services Environmental Laboratory Environmental Laboratory Analyst
PHC3 Scientific Services Environmental Monitoring Environmental Specialist
PHE1 Scientific Services Environmental Safety Environmental Safety Coordinator
PHF2 Scientific Services Occupational Safety Occupational Safety Specialist
PQC1 Student Services Recreation Programming & Operations Recreation Program Coordinator
PQA1 Student Services Residence Life Management Residence Life Coordinator
PQB1 Student Services Student Life Programs Student Life Program Coordinator

Job Code Function Family University Classification
PCC2 Academic Support A/C Program Management Academic or Clinical Program Management & Services Specialist
PCA2 Academic Support Academic Advising Senior Academic Advisor
PCD2 Academic Support Admissions & Enrollment Services Admissions & Enrollment Services Specialist/Coordinator
PCE2 Academic Support Educational Support Services Educational Support Services Specialist
PCF2 Academic Support Financial Aid Financial Aid Manager
PCH2 Academic Support Instructional Services Instructional Services Specialist
PCR2 Academic Support Registrar Services Registrar Services Coordinator
PAA3 Administration Administrative Services Administrative Services Manager
PAB2 Administration Business Analyst Business Analyst
PAD1 Administration Program Administration Program Coordinator
PAE2 Administration Project Management Project Manager
PEA3 Arts, Culture & Entertainment Collections Management Collections/Exhibitions Manager
PSB2 Athletics Athletic Trainer Athletic Trainer
PNA1 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Audit Auditor
PNB2 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Compliance Senior Compliance Coordinator
PND2 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Risk Management Risk Management Administrator
PJB2 Behavioral Health Licensed Clinical Professional Behavioral Health Clinician
PBF3 Business & Finance Finance & Accounting Senior Accountant
PBF4 Business & Finance Finance & Accounting Senior Financial Analyst
PBH3 Business & Finance Procurement & Inventory Management Services Supply Chain Specialist
PBP2 Business & Finance Purchasing Senior Purchasing Agent
PWC2 Engineering & Architecture Engineer Design Engineer
PWA3 Engineering & Architecture Project Manager E&A Project Manager
PFA1 Facilities Operations Facilities Specialty Services Facilities Services Specialist
PFB2 Facilities Operations Facility Administration Facility Manager
PFC1 Facilities Operations Management Services Management Services Supervisor
PYA2 Hospitality Catering, Dining & Event Services Catering, Dining & Event Services Manager
PYB3 Hospitality Food Preparation Executive Chef
PGA3 Human Resources HR Administration Human Resource Generalist
PGB2 Human Resources HR Specialty Services Senior Human Resource Specialist
PIA2 Information Technology Applications Development & Support Application Developer
PIB3 Information Technology Communications Infrastructure Engineer Senior Communications Infrastructure Engineer
PID3 Information Technology Database Administration & Support Senior Database Administrator
PIE2 Information Technology IT Security Senior IT Security Analyst
PIC2 Information Technology IT Support Services IT Support Consultant
PIN2 Information Technology Network Engineer Network Engineer
PIF2 Information Technology Systems Administration & Programming Systems Administrator
PLB2 Libraries University Librarians Specialist Librarian
PMA2 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Academic/Scientific Editor Academic/Scientific Editorial Manager
PMP3 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Communication/Constituent Relations Communications Specialist
PMP4 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Communication/Constituent Relations Constituent Relations Specialist
PMC3 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Creative Media Production Creative Media Manager/Producer
PMD3 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Designer Senior Designer/Art Director
PMM2 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Marketing Marketing Specialist
PMW3 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Writer/Editor Senior Writer/Editor
PRA1 Research Clinical Research Clinical/Health Care Research Assistant
PRG2 Research Pharmacy Quality Control & Development Associate Chemist
PRK2 Research Research Professional Research Associate
PRM2 Research Research Support Research Support Specialist
PHD2 Scientific Services Environmental Health & Safety Safety Specialist
PHB2 Scientific Services Environmental Laboratory Environmental Laboratory Specialist
PHE2 Scientific Services Environmental Safety Environmental Safety Specialist
PQA2 Student Services Residence Life Management Residence Life Manager
PQB2 Student Services Student Life Programs Student Life Assistant Director

Job Code Function Family University Classification
PCA3 Academic Support Academic Advising Associate Director, Academic Advising
PCD3 Academic Support Admissions & Enrollment Services Admissions & Enrollment Services Manager
PCH3 Academic Support Instructional Services Instructional Services Manager
PCR3 Academic Support Registrar Services Registrar Services Manager
PAB3 Administration Business Analyst Senior Business Analyst
PAD2 Administration Program Administration Program Manager
PAE3 Administration Project Management Senior Project Manager
PAF3 Administration Quality & Operational Improvement Quality & Operational Improvement Engineer
PEJ3 Arts, Culture & Entertainment Technical Director/Prod Management Production Management Manager
PNB3 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Compliance Compliance Specialist
PNE1 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management IT Auditor IT Auditor
PJB3 Behavioral Health Licensed Clinical Professional Senior Behavioral Health Clinician
PBF5 Business & Finance Finance & Accounting Manager, Accounting & Financial Analysis
PBH4 Business & Finance Procurement & Inventory Management Services Supply Chain Manager
PBP3 Business & Finance Purchasing Strategic Sourcing Manager
PWC3 Engineering & Architecture Engineer Project Engineer
PWA4 Engineering & Architecture Project Manager E&A Senior Project Manager
PFA2 Facilities Operations Facilities Specialty Services Senior Facilities Services Specialist
PFC2 Facilities Operations Management Services Management Services Manager
PFD2 Facilities Operations Utilities Management Utilities/Energy Manager
PVM1 Health Care Nursing Management Assistant Nurse Manager
PVC5 Health Care Revenue Cycle Revenue Cycle Manager
PGA4 Human Resources HR Administration Human Resource Manager
PGB3 Human Resources HR Specialty Services Administrator, Human Resource Services
PIA3 Information Technology Applications Development & Support Senior Application Developer
PID4 Information Technology Database Administration & Support Lead Database Administrator
PIM1 Information Technology IT Management IT Manager
PIE3 Information Technology IT Security IT Security Architect
PIC4 Information Technology IT Support Services Lead IT Support Consultant
PIC3 Information Technology IT Support Services Senior IT Support Consultant
PIN3 Information Technology Network Engineer Senior Network Engineer
PIF3 Information Technology Systems Administration & Programming Senior Systems Administrator
PLB3 Libraries University Librarians Expert Librarian
PMP5 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Communication/Constituent Relations Communications Manager
PMP6 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Marketing Constituent Relations Manager
PMM3 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Marketing Marketing Manager
PRS2 Research Animal Husbandry Animal Husbandry Manager
PRA2 Research Clinical Research Clinical/Health Care Research Associate
PRE2 Research Intellectual Property License & Protection Licensing Associate
PRG3 Research Pharmaceutical Quality Control & Development Senior Chemist
PRC3 Research Research Compliance & Education Compliance & Education Manager
PRK4 Research Research Professional Research Manager
PRK3 Research Research Professional Research Specialist
PRL1 Research Research Statistics Statistician/Biostatistician
PRM3 Research Research Support Research Support Manager
PHD3 Scientific Services Environmental Health & Safety Safety Compliance Specialist
PHB3 Scientific Services Environmental Laboratory Environmental Laboratory Supervisor
PHC5 Scientific Services Environmental Monitoring Environmental Manager
PHF4 Scientific Services Occupational Safety Occupational Safety Manager
PQC3 Student Services Recreation Programming & Operations Recreation Program Associate Director

Job Code Function Family University Classification
PCA4 Academic Support Academic Advising Senior Associate Director, Academic Advising
PCD4 Academic Support Admissions & Enrollment Services Director, Admissions & Enrollment Services
PCE4 Academic Support Educational Support Services Educational Support Services Director
PCF4 Academic Support Financial Aid Senior Associate Director, Financial Aid
PCH4 Academic Support Instructional Services Instructional Services Director
PCR4 Academic Support Registrar Services Senior Associate Director, Registrar Services
PAA4 Administration Administrative Services Administrative Services Administrator
PAB4 Administration Business Analyst Manager, Business Analysis
PAD3 Administration Program Administration Program Director
PAE4 Administration Project Manager Director, Project Management
PAF5 Administration Quality & Operational Improvement Quality & Operational Improvement Manager/Director
PNA2 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Audit Audit Manager
PNB4 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Compliance Compliance Associate Director
PJB4 Behavioral Health Licensed Clinical Professional Behavioral Health Clinical Manager
PJO1 Behavioral Health University Ombudsperson University Ombudsperson
PBF6 Business & Finance Finance & Accounting Associate Budget/Financial Officer
PBH5 Business & Finance Procurement & Inventory Management Services Supply Chain Director
PBP4 Business & Finance Purchasing Director, Strategic Sourcing
PWC4 Engineering & Architecture Engineer Principal Engineer
PFC3 Facilities Operations Management Services Management Services Assistant Director
PVK2 Health Care Clinical Informatics Senior Informatics Specialist
PVH2 Health Care Pharmaceutical Care Services Pharmacy Operations Supervisor
PVH1 Health Care Pharmaceutical Care Services Pharmacy Specialist
PGA5 Human Resources HR Administration Human Resource Director
PGB4 Human Resources HR Specialty Services Director, Human Resource Services
PIA4 Information Technology Applications Development & Support Lead Application Developer
PID5 Information Technology Database Administration & Support Database Architect
PIM2 Information Technology IT Management IT Director
PIE4 Information Technology IT Security Security Operations Director
PIN4 Information Technology Network Engineer Network Architect
PIF4 Information Technology Systems Administration & Programming Systems Architect
PLB4 Libraries University Librarians Senior Librarian
PMM4 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Marketing Marketing Director
PRA4 Research Clinical Research Clinical/Health Care Research Manager
PRL2 Research Research Statistics Statistician/Biostatistician Manager
PRM4 Research Research Support Research Support Administrator
PHD4 Scientific Services Environmental Health & Safety Safety Officer
PHB5 Scientific Services Environmental Laboratory Environmental Laboratory Manager
PHB4 Scientific Services Environmental Laboratory Environmental Laboratory Scientist
PHE4 Scientific Services Environmental Safety Environmental Safety Program Manager
PQA4 Student Services Residence Life Management Residence Life Director

Job Code Function Family University Classification
PAA5 Administration Administrative Services Administrative Services Director
PSA2 Athletics Administrative Professional Associate Athletics Director
PNA3 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Audit Assistant Audit Director
PNB5 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Compliance Compliance Director
PNC3 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Legal Deputy Counsel
PBF7 Business & Finance Finance & Accounting Budget/Financial Officer
PWD1 Engineering & Architecture Director, Planning, Design & Construction Director, Planning, Design & Construction
PWA6 Engineering & Architecture Project Manager Associate Director, E&A Project Management
PFC4 Facilities Operations Management Services Management Services Director
PFD4 Facilities Operations Utilities Management Director, Utilities & Energy Management
PVB3 Health Care Health Care Management Health Care Services Associate Director
PVC7 Health Care Revenue Cycle Revenue Cycle Director
PGA6 Human Resources HR Administration Senior Human Resource Director
PGB5 Human Resources HR Specialty Services Senior Director, Human Resource Services
PIA5 Information Technology Applications Development & Support Senior Application Architect
PID6 Information Technology Database Administration & Support Senior Database Architect
PIM3 Information Technology IT Management Senior IT Director
PIE5 Information Technology IT Security Senior IT Security Officer
PIF5 Information Technology Systems Administration & Programming Senior Systems Architect
PLB5 Libraries University Librarians Associate Director, University Libraries
PMP7 Marketing, Communication & Outreach Communication/Constituent Relations Communication/Constituent Relations Director
PRY1 Research Director of Startups Director of Startups
PRU1 Research Research Compliance Director Research Compliance Director
PRT1 Research Veterinarian Veterinarian
PHB6 Scientific Services Environmental Laboratory Environmental Laboratory Director

Job Code Function Family University Classification
PEA4 Arts, Culture & Entertainment Collections Management Collections/Exhibitions Director
PND5 Audit, Compliance, Legal & Risk Management Risk Management Chief Risk Officer
PVB4 Health Care Health Care Management Director, Clinical Services
PVE3 Health Care Licensed HC Provider Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist/Supervisor
PVE4 Health Care Licensed HC Provider Student Health Services Physician/Psychiatrist
PVM4 Health Care Nursing Management Director, Nursing Services
PRT2 Research Veterinarian Attending Veterinarian & Director of Animal Resources

Salary Market Data Sources

The university has selected multiple reliable, well-established salary surveys to provide salary market data reflecting the markets in which we recruit and compete for Professional and Scientific talent. These includes:

  • Different geographical markets (national, regional, local),
  • Different business sectors (education, health care, general industry), and
  • Internal market comparisons (SEIU/AFSCME).

In order to get reliable information on a majority of university positions, a number of survey sources were identified. Whenever possible, multiple sources were used for a specific benchmark job, using data that most closely reflects our size, complexity, and geographic location.  A summary of the specific surveys used is provided below:

Market Data Sources Accordion

The Administrators in Higher Education Survey collects data on nearly 50,000 administrators in approximately 200 senior-level administrative positions from more than 1,000 higher education institutions. Data collected includes salary, gender, race/ethnicity, age, and years in position. The Professionals in Higher Education Survey collects data on more than 265,000 professionals in more than 400 positions from approximately 1,000 higher education institutions. Data collected includes salary, FLSA status (exempt or non-exempt), sex, race/ethnicity, age, and years in position.   The Staff in Higher Education Survey collects data from more than 750 higher education institutions on approximately 200,000 staff in approximately 150 staff positions (office/clerical, technical/paraprofessional, skilled craft, and service/maintenance). Data collected includes salary, sex, race/ethnicity, age and years in position. For our analysis, we focused specifically on the salary information from Big Ten Universities and other peer institutions within each survey.

Salary.com's Comp Analyst tool is an online service that allows users to market price jobs by industry, geography, and organization size.  It also allows jobs to be blended when a specific job classification match isn't appropriate. This service is a significant expansion from the Salary.com that is available to the public. The service that we are using is a special professional-grade compensation database that has been compiled using specialized salary surveys. The online library allows access to market price more than 15,000 unique job titles.

The Mercer Metro Benchmark survey is for general industry and our analysis focuses on the North Central region of the United States. It is recognized by compensation professionals as a leading survey to determine salary levels for employees. This survey covers more than 3,000 positions in approximately 20 different job families from more than 3,000 organizations. The results allow for market refinements such as industry super sector, employee work location, net sales revenue, and full-time equivalents.

This nationwide survey collects Total Cash Compensation data for over 500 professional, managerial and director-level staff positions specific to higher-education institutions. This survey provides national salary information for selected positions. 

The Professional Administrative and Sales survey provides salary information for non-management and administrative positions in more than 300 different job families. The Professional Technical and Operations survey provides salary information for non-management and administrative positions in approximately 150 different job families. The focus is on IT, supply chain and other specialized professional classifications. The data is reported at multiple levels of responsibility and experience within each job family.

Compdata BenchmarkPro survey provides access to executive and general staff compensation data from more than 2,600 organizations across industries. This is a national, general industry survey.  Compdata Colleges and Universities survey results provide a comprehensive look at salary information for more than 900 job titles across the campus, including Faculty administration, higher education, and general staff positions.

This survey provides salary information for Arts, Culture and Entertainment job classifications and comes from a consortium of 21 United States university presenting organizations. The consortium was formed in 2002 to share best practices and information, organize joint projects, provide a format for peer to peer contact and advocate for the role of performing arts presenters in major research universities.

The AUTM Salary Survey is the most comprehensive survey for academic technology transfer professional positions. This survey assesses 10 common professional positions from over 100 organizations. 

This survey collects information about compensation for administrative positions in basic and clinical science departments, as well as interdisciplinary centers, which include cancer centers and clinical and translational science award programs. Ninety-one medical schools reported compensation data for over 1,800 administrators.  Information is separated by Public and Private medical schools.

This survey contains data from over 200 health care organizations covering over 275 positions.  Almost all professional level medical center positions are surveyed. The survey has multiple modules with salary information for both multiple hospital systems and single facilities.  The analysis is summarized by organization size and geographic area.

Athletics Departments throughout the country participate in an annual survey of over 150 professional, administrative and coaching positions. For our analysis, we focused specifically on the salary information from Big Ten Universities and other peer institutions.

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) analyzes salary data for all professional staff working in over 120 ARL member libraries covering over 1,000 professional staff in more than 100 university ARL libraries.

The NACUA survey provides salary information for attorneys in higher education. There are breakdowns for types of institutions, geographic regions, operating budgets, enrollments, total employees, and more.  

Have a Question?

VISIT OUR CONTACT PAGE