Eligible Penn State employees will receive salary increases in September
Penn State employees will get a salary increase for the fiscal year that just started, the university announced last week, which will be reflected in their September paychecks.
The increases will be retroactive to July 1, the university said in a news release. Individual increases may be higher or less than the approved 3% because they are awarded based on employee performance, available funding and unit-specific goals. Employees can see their salary increase on Workday beginning Sept. 22.
Salary increases for unionized employees are negotiated separately.
Jennifer Wildes, vice president for Human Resources and chief human resources officer, said they are grateful for their employees’ contributions to driving student success, and to the teaching, research and service missions.
“Penn State is among the world’s greatest public universities, and that is no accident — it’s thanks to our hard-working, world-class faculty and staff,” Wilkes said in the release.
The university’s board of trustees last July approved salary increases in the 2025-26 budget, and did the same this year when they approved the 2026-27 budget. Penn State is planning for an annual salary increase pool of 3% next year as well.
“At a time when higher education nationally is facing a complex and evolving landscape, and some institutions are cutting budgets and not able to offer employees compensation increases, at this time, Penn State is again setting aside a 3% pool for salary increases for eligible employees in 2026-27, in recognition of their hard work, dedication and value to the University,” Wilkes said.
In the past, the annual salary increase was delayed due to the state legislature not passing the state budget on time.
