A look at how much your professors are paid
By Tanya Arnoti and Gianni Colavecchia
How much does your professor make?
According to a copy of the Ryerson Faculty Association (RFA) Collective Agreement obtained by The Eyeopener, Ryerson professors make a minimum of $43,947 and a maximum of $83,646. The salaries of librarians range from $40,218 to $69,469.
Out of Ryerson’s 427 full-time professors, 128 are in Step 19 of the union contract pay-scale, according to V.P. Faculty and Staff Affairs Michael Dewson. Step 19 professors earn $74,646.
Most faculty members who were interviewed for this article said they’re fairly happy with their pay.
Chemical Engineering professor Herbert Barton said, “I guess I am [satisfied with my salary]. It all depends on the circumstances. We have a very good faculty association and we’ve negotiated salaries over the years. Our association has done very well with the administration.” Barton said he earns over $75,000 because he has a PhD and has been at Ryerson for 25 years.
Journalism instructor Loren Lind also feels his pay is justified. “I’d like to think people who’ve worked as long as I have would get as much [as my pay]. I’m happy to receive it. I don’t think it’s too much.” Lind said he makes almost $75,000. He has taught at Ryerson for 18 years.
Ryerson Chief Librarian Richard Malinski said the average salary for libraries is $59,000.
Malinski feels his pay, just under $90,000 a year, is not enough. He asked rhetorically, “Whose pay is sufficient?” and added, “I’d like to get more. We all would. But I don’t think you’re going to hear complaints when so many people are put out on the street.”
Every one of his librarians has a BA. Of his staff of 14, four members with four years of experience make less than $50,000. Ten members with more than 15 years experience make more than that salary.
Malinski isn’t the only faculty member who would like a few extra bucks. Geography professor Wisoaw Michalak has three MA’s and a PhD. But his salary range is $45,000 to $55,000.
He said his pay is a lot less than the pay he earned at universities in England and Australia. “I think my salary is too low considering the cost of living in Toronto. I think they should adjust salaries to the price index.”
Students have different views on the amount professors are paid. A first-year Still Photography student, who didn’t want her name published, guessed professors made between $50,000 and $100,000.
She feels teachers don’t deserve such a high salary. “I think they should earn less. You don’t really learn from them, you can just read the book.”
Fourth-year Aerospace Engineering student John Allegro, has similar views. He believes professors who don’t bring scientific contributions to their fields aren’t worth more than $72,000.
He also disagrees with the tenure system, in which teachers earn job security after about five years. “I’ve had bad experiences with profs. Some of them are fucking assholes. We can’t get rid of them because of tenure.” He added all tenured professors “seem to suck” because they get lazy. “I don’t think they want to be there. Many are not responding to students. They say, ‘Whatever happens to you, we don’t give a shit.’”
PAY-SCALES FROM THE RYERSON FACULTY ASSOCIATION COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
| STEP | PROFESSOR | ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR | LTF, LECTURER, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR |
| 0 | 43,497.00 | 38,563.00 | 32,800.00 |
| 1 | 46,187.00 | 40,358.00 | 34,974.00 |
| 2 | 48,427.00 | 42,152.00 | 36,769.00 |
| 3 | 50,679.00 | 43,947.00 | 38,563.00 |
| 4 | 52,919.00 | 46,187.00 | 40,358.00 |
| 5 | 55,159.00 | 48,427.00 | 42,152.00 |
| 6 | 57,399.00 | 50,679.00 | 43,497.00 |
| 7 | 59,639.00 | 52,919.00 | 46,187.00 |
| 8 | 61,879.00 | 55,159.00 | 48,427.00 |
| 9 | 64,577.00 | 57,399.00 | 50,679.00 |
| 10 | 65,577.00 | 59,639.00 | 52,919.00 |
| 11 | 66,577.00 | 61,879.00 | 55,159.00 |
| 12 | 67,577.00 | 64,577.00 | 57,399.00 |
| 13 | 68,577.00 | 65,577.00 | |
| 14 | 69,577.00 | 66,577.00 | |
| 15 | 70,577.00 | 67,577.00 | |
| 16 | 71,577.00 | 68,577.00 | |
| 17 | 72,646.00 | 69,577.00 | |
| 18 | 73,646.00 | 70,577.00 | |
| 19 | 74,646.00 | 71,577.00 | |
| A | 75,646.00 | ||
| B | 76,646.00 | ||
| C | 77,646.00 | ||
| D | 78,646.00 | ||
| E | 79,646.00 | ||
| F | 80,646.00 | ||
| G | 81,646.00 | ||
| H | 82,646.00 | ||
| I | 83,646.00 |
Leave a Reply