Compensation Increase Timeline at CIRES / CU Boulder

Since 2021, CIRES and CU have taken several actions to increase employee compensation. We recognize the cost of living, combined with inflation and the overall job market, makes it imperative we strive to retain our talented faculty and staff. This ongoing work aligns with our CIRES Compensation Philosophy, established in September 2024.

Pay Actions at CU/CIRES to date (complete list here) for eligible employees:

2027

• January - to be determined

2026

• January:
  • 4% pool for merit-based increases for teaching faculty, research faculty
  • 4% across-the-board increase for university staff and CIRES administrative positions

• August
  • 2.5% across-the-board increase for graduate students on appointment

2025

• January:
  • 4% pool for merit-based increases for teaching faculty, research faculty
  • 4% across-the-board increase for university staff and CIRES administrative positions.

2024

• January:
  • 4% across-the-board increase for research faculty and university staff
  • 3.83% across-the-board increase for teaching faculty
• October: New CIRES Compensation Structure implemented for researchers who fall into associate and research scientist career tracks, with the following exceptions:
  • This does not include researchers who are members of a tenure track faculty member's research team.
  • This does not include TTT faculty, post-docs, or administrative personnel

2023

• Spring: 3% across-the-board increase for graduate student assistantships
• January: 3% pool for merit-based increases for teaching faculty, research faculty, and university staff
• January: Tenured faculty promotion and tenure compression adjustments

2022

• January: 3% across-the-board increases for teaching faculty, research faculty, and university staff
• January: 1% one-time payment for teaching faculty, research faculty, and university staff
• Spring: 3% across-the-board increases for graduate student assistantships and temporary faculty contract by course compensation
• October: $1,300 one-time payment (prorated for part-time appointments) for teaching faculty, research faculty, university
• staff, and classified staff
• Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act pay adjustments across CIRES units

2021

• Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act pay adjustments across CIRES units