I find myself agreeing with RAF. You are absolutely right on the cost of living issue. The other problem is that these institutions are in large part monopolies and every time the amount of money a student can borrow goes up so does tuition. Every time one institution pays more or charges more the others use it as an excuse to pay more or charge more. It has become an inflationary circle. For example, many schools charge more for online learning even though the capital costs are less.

That being said, you don't get a PHd or MA sitting in a classroom. You have to do research to get either one and generally you would have to do some kind of research study to get a PHd.

RAF, I understand that the previous post did come off pretty negative at the end. I think that it was in response to the negativity that I sense, as a student, towards professors. I respect the majority of my professors and admire the amount of effort they've invested in getting to the level they are. I agree with you that there are a lot of professions that make this world a better place. I do think that teachers/professors have the unique power of molding minds and shaping intellect. This is not a responsiblity to be taken lightly, and I believe it is in Wisconsin's best interest to have the best, the brightest, and the most responsible doing these jobs. Investing in attracting these people is a wise investment for the future of our state.

"Well, those people don't teach and cultivate the youth of our country in order to make the world a better place like college professors do. That's why... Just because you didn't (or more likely couldn't) do it doesn't mean you have to be so negative about it."
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There are many occupations that make the world a better place, just because you don't see that (or more likely can't) doesn't mean you have to be so negative about it---yep pretty much the same positive message as yours.

Oldtimer isn't just old...he sounds pretty out of touch too. "Know for a fact?" How? Do you attend UW-Madison like the other poster? Did you attend it recently?

The fact is in order to maintain top talent (in any industry) you have either pay them what they're worth or offer them other types of incentives to stay (things like flex hours, great benefits package, extra vacation days, etc.) Otherwise people will leave. Worse teachers = worse students attending = worse talent graduating.

I graduated from UW-Madison in 2001 and NEVER ONCE had a TA (teacher’s aide/assistant) teach a class. You would usually have 2/3 lectures a week with a Prof and then a discussion or 2 a week with a TA. Like the other actual UW-Madison student mentioned, the TAs do more one-on-one work, handle grading assignments, correct exams, etc. And all of my Profs always held office hours or were available to meet whenever they could.

And why don't they publish other salaries (tradesman, real estate brokers, sewage plant technicians, or tree trimmers)? Well, those people don't teach and cultivate the youth of our country in order to make the world a better place like college professors do. That's why.

Everyone loves to rail against these jobs - "Not a bad gig for those who choose this career path" - well then choose it. These people pay over $100K to fund their education (undergrad, graduate degree, doctorate, etc.). Just because you didn't (or more likely couldn't) do it doesn't mean you have to be so negative about it.

Agreed, RAF. But remember, you get what you pay for.

Oldtimer: I'm a Senior at UW-Madison, and while I'm not sure what your definition of "a lot" is, I can assure you that a T.A., or teaching assistant has never been the sole "teacher". They do run discussion sections. Those meet one time a week, and lectures are typically two to three times a week. Those are led/taught by the Professor. Or PhD candidate. You're well aware of who will be teaching when you sign up for the course. Teaching Aides by no means "teach." They give more one on one attention. I'd also like to say that EVERY professor I've had has been willing to make an appointment to talk to me. In my entire time at UW-Madison, I've had one professor cancel one lecture because she was in an accident. That's it...not one has missed a lecture because they were in Europe...

The current budget proposes support from the state of only 47% of general academic program costs. The remainder comes from tuition.

"I don't know why so many folks begrudge our faculty their salary."
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Seeing their salary is provided by taxpayers it is completely appropriate that voices of taxpayers are heard on this. If what you say is true that some of the our best professors (subjective) have left the state does not always mean a bad thing. There are many people in this country that can teach this and other subjects. No state run University has shut down because a few professors decided to move else ware.

I don't know why so many folks begrudge our faculty their salary. They help educate the productive citizens of tomorrow. What wasn't covered here is the fact that many of our best professors are leaving the state. Last year most of the Political Science department at Madison left for better jobs elsewhere. If we want our state to continue in high-tech, high-wage jobs, we're going to need to continue to invest in higher education.

"And please don't forget that UW-System faculty members typically have to invest in about a decade of higher education simply to get and keep their job."
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And? I would hope those that teach are subject matter experts. Other than decades immersed in their respective fields of expertise on/in the business/research world where else would these skills come from than to spend time in the classroom learning it? This would be an expectation of the job (prerequisite), nothing new, all jobs have some level of expectation by the employer before committing to hiring. What is not provided by the story is most companies pay is respective of the area in the country were the job is performed . This simple fact keeps comparing income without cost of living (area) figures inequitable and obviously something the associations of professors does not want to bring to the table.

I'm sorry the JG posted only excerpts. These salaries, even for the longest-serving, "full" professors, vary widely by discipline (many will retire having never earned even these "average" salaries for their rank). Still, UW-System faculty are doing worse, as compared nationally, than our state's K-12 teachers. One group is prohibited, by state law, from unionizing; the other enjoys collective bargaining and lots of political muscle.

Do some--those who have lost jobs recently--have it worse?--sure! Still, I believe most of us measure our wage-worth by what others in the field are earning elsewhere; I'm certain the Janesville-GM workers would not have happily accepted salaries 10% or more lower than, say, those earned by Chrysler employees elsewhere.

(And please don't forget that UW-System faculty members typically have to invest in about a decade of higher education simply to get and keep their job.)

billnewbie....YES!!!!!!!!!

This “study" is just a propaganda piece designed to soften up the public for the latest round of spending increases to support the university system. It offers political cover for our representatives in that it gives them something to point to when they are called to account for their votes. Soon there will be a companion piece about how hard it is to keep "the best" from leaving the system, followed by another about how much our students deserve "the best" and on and on ad infinitum. TCB is right. It’s a never ending story. And yet we still seem to keep professors and we still attract new ones as well as students while scoring high in comparison to other similar university systems in spite of our perennially low salaries. Maybe the sky isn’t falling after all.

Originality in news simply does not exist:

The same concern over salaries is rehashed in an article from 1999:

http://www.news.wisc.edu/888

10 years from know, the story will read:

After 2 stagnant decades salaries remain low for full tenured professors compared to other professors with lifetime, guaranteed employement.

RetiredAirForce,

Your isn't entirely true. The Gazette loved to post what auto workers were making all the time. They had an obsession with it for some reason. ;-)

Yeah those numbers are high. When I was in college there was a website that listed all the salaries of professors of the UW system. The mode was alot lower than the average they are showing. Professors that have written books or have their salaries paid by a business (yes this happens for recruiting purposes) have much larger salaries and that is probably what is throwing off the average.

MiltonRedmen I was referring to UW Madison where I know for a fact that is the case,

The problem with being below average is that it means your best talent gets cherry-picked by other universities. The UW system is seen as a training ground and many will move on as soon as they are able.
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Note, though, that it might be prudent to also compare cost of living. The taxpayers aren't responsible for the private colleges that also pay below average.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/4...

oldtimer - I'm in my 3rd year at UWW and have NEVER had an aide or assistant teach a single class, it has ALWAYS been the professor. In fact, one of my professors is on campus either teaching or in his office from 7am until nearly 6pm 5 days a week. He's a young professor and works VERY hard to make sure his students get the education they deserve as do most of the professors in the department.

Those salaries quoted were for professors in a doctoral program. A friend of mine, with his Ph.D., teaches at UW-Eau Claire and earns a salary in the $40,000 range. Not peanuts, granted, but not as much as stated in this article.

The low-salary club is better than the no-salary club

If these figures are correct, it means that we are doing a better job of keeping costs down than other areas of the country. I wonder how these salaries would look if they were adjusted by a cost of living index? And you are absolutely correct to point out that someone is always going to be below average (except in Lake Wobegon).

A lot of those professors travel to europe on our buck on some kind of reserch, they are hardly ever in the class room as it is. aides usually do the teaching. Iam so sick of their belly acheing. My retirement is low too.

Is this data for "Tenured" professors? Kay5 is 100% correct, the salary quoted is only 1 part of the total cost to employ people who have lifetime employment. Not a bad gig for those who choose this career path.

Correct me if I am wrong but (by nature of numbers) doesn't SOMEONE have to be below average? Oh wait I am not a professor.

MOMMY! Billy has a newer bike than me, it even has a horn! When am I gonna get a new bike, Mommy? When?!?

They don't bother to mention the additional perks they get do they.
They are preparing the public for reasons for more tax increases.

How is this news? You never read a release from tradesman, real estate brokers, sewage plant technicians, or tree trimmers. Yet every time a teacher/professor think they don't make enough it is news.