Wages
Most students earn between $15.40 and $20.00 per hour. The average hourly wage rate among all student temporary employees is $16.05.
Minimum Wage
The current minimum wage in Evanston is $15.40 per hour (effective January 1, 2026).
The current minimum wage in Chicago is $17.05 per hour (effective July 1, 2026).
Pay Groups and Wages
Student employees are part of Payroll's Biweekly Temporary (BIT) pay group.
Each student job title has a suggested wage range. These ranges promote fair and consistent pay across similar student jobs at the university. Supervisors have the discretion to set a student's hourly wage apart from the recommended ranges in light of other factors including department budget and wage consistency of other employees in your department.
- Range A - Entry-level positions
- Range B - Moderate responsibilities or skills
- Range C - Advanced duties, experience, or complexity
For FWS student employees, higher wages may result in them reaching their FWS earnings limit earlier in the academic year.
Student Wages Ranges 2025-2026
|
Student Wages 2025-26 |
Group A |
Group B |
Group C |
|
Evanston |
$15.40 - $17.00 |
$16.00 - $18.50 |
$17.00 - $20.00 |
|
Chicago |
$17.05- $19.05 |
$18.05 - $20.05 |
$19.05 -$21.05 |
Pay Increases
- Merit and longevity pay increases are at the supervisor’s discretion; however, a $.05 hourly pay increase for each quarter of continuous service.
- The combined merit and longevity pay increase, added to the base salary, should ideally not exceed the range of the job level listed above.
- Supervisors and students have a one-on-one performance review conversation at the end of the academic year, with increases in effect for the following year.