Quick Answer: The University of Michigan–Ann Arbor employs approximately 50,000 people across the university and Michigan Medicine, making it one of the largest employers in the state. Roughly 30,000 work for the university itself in faculty, staff, athletics, library, food service, and trades roles. Pay ranges from $17–$24/hr for service positions to $200,000+ for senior faculty. Apply through careers.umich.edu. Strong tuition support and retirement benefits are central to the offer.
Working at the University of Michigan
The University of Michigan–Ann Arbor is one of the largest public research universities in the country and the largest single-site employer in Washtenaw County. Counting Michigan Medicine, the institution supports roughly 50,000 jobs; the university proper employs about 30,000 across its three campuses (Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint), with Ann Arbor representing the bulk of headcount. Hiring runs continuously across faculty, professional staff, technical staff, skilled trades, food service, library, athletics, and public safety roles.
Michigan is a Big Ten R1 institution, classified by Carnegie as a Doctoral University with Very High Research Activity. The university operates 19 schools and colleges, three regional campuses, the largest research library system in the state, and an athletic department of national scale. It is one of the most heavily unionized public universities in the country, with active collective bargaining covering service workers, lecturers, graduate teaching assistants, skilled trades, and public safety officers.
For job seekers, Michigan offers a combination of stability, competitive total compensation, strong retirement contributions, and one of the more accessible internal mobility programs in higher education. This page covers how to apply, what to expect from pay and benefits, and how to position yourself competitively in the application process.
How to Apply for Jobs at the University of Michigan
All Michigan job applications run through careers.umich.edu, the central applicant tracking system. Email applications are not accepted. Steps:
- Create an account at careers.umich.edu. You’ll use this same account for all future applications and to track status.
- Search by category — Staff, Faculty, Temporary, or Student. Most adult career-track positions appear under Staff or Faculty.
- Prepare your materials. For staff: resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references. For faculty: CV, research statement, teaching statement, diversity statement, letters of recommendation, and a writing sample or portfolio (specifics vary by school and rank).
- Submit through the portal. Applications can be saved as drafts and edited until submitted. Some postings have a closing date; others are open until filled.
- Background check. Required for all positions. Roles working with minors require additional state-mandated screening.
Hiring timelines: 2–4 weeks for entry-level service staff, 4–8 weeks for mid-career staff, 8–12 weeks for senior management, and 4–6 months for tenure-track faculty searches.
University of Michigan Pay Ranges
Staff (Service, Trades, and Operations)
| Role | Approximate Pay |
|---|---|
| Custodial / Food Service / Grounds | $17–$24/hr |
| Skilled Trades (HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing) | $30–$45/hr |
| Public Safety Officer (DPSS) | $55,000–$80,000 |
| Library Assistant / Technical | $40,000–$60,000 |
Staff (Administrative & Professional)
| Level | Approximate Pay |
|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant | $40,000–$55,000 |
| Department Coordinator / Specialist | $50,000–$70,000 |
| Mid-career Manager / Senior Analyst | $70,000–$110,000 |
| Director / Senior Director | $120,000–$200,000+ |
Faculty
| Rank | Approximate Pay (varies by discipline) |
|---|---|
| Lecturer (LEO) | $54,000–$78,000 (full-time equivalent) |
| Assistant Professor | $90,000–$140,000 |
| Associate Professor | $110,000–$170,000 |
| Full Professor (humanities/social sciences) | $140,000–$220,000 |
| Full Professor (medicine, law, business, engineering) | $200,000–$400,000+ |
Salary disclosure note: As a public institution, Michigan publishes salaries above a state-defined threshold annually. Specific role-level data is publicly searchable.
Benefits at the University of Michigan
Health insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan tiers. For benefits-eligible employees, coverage typically begins on the date of hire.
Retirement: Michigan operates one of the more generous retirement structures in higher education — a 401(a) Basic Retirement Plan with a 5% employee contribution and a 10% university contribution after a one-year qualifying service period. Employees can additionally contribute to 403(b) and 457(b) supplemental retirement accounts.
Tuition support: Michigan offers tuition support to eligible employees for coursework at U of M and, in some cases, other institutions. Eligibility, percentage covered, and dependent inclusion vary by program type and employee category. Confirm specifics with HR during the application or onboarding process.
How to Ask About Tuition Support During the Application Process
Most candidates leave the tuition benefit topic for the offer stage and miss the chance to evaluate it as part of their decision. Recommended approach:
- Wait for the interview stage — not the application.
- Ask the hiring manager: “Could you walk me through the tuition support program for employees in this role? I’d like to understand eligibility, percentage covered, whether dependents qualify, and any service requirement before benefits begin.”
- Request that the specifics be attached to your offer letter in writing.
- Confirm the service requirement (typically 1–2 years for employee benefits; some institutions require longer for dependent coverage).
- Ask which institutions count as eligible (some programs only cover the home institution; some include partner consortiums).
- Understand the tax treatment — for graduate-level coursework, employer-paid tuition above $5,250 per year may be treated as taxable income.
Other benefits: Life and disability insurance, dependent care flexible spending account, employee assistance program, professional development funds, free or discounted access to UM cultural and athletic events, and recreational facility membership.
Career Advancement at Michigan
Michigan operates an internal job board within careers.umich.edu that gives priority status to current employees in some categories. Service-level employees can move up through skilled trades programs; administrative assistants regularly advance to coordinator and program manager roles; many staff use tuition support to complete degrees that enable promotion to higher-paying roles. Faculty paths follow the standard tenure structure with formal review at year 3 and tenure decision at year 6.
Unions at the University of Michigan
Michigan has one of the most extensive union footprints in U.S. higher education. Key bargaining units:
- AFSCME Local 1583 — service and maintenance workers (custodial, dining, grounds)
- LEO (Lecturers’ Employee Organization, AFT Local 6244) — non-tenure-track lecturers
- GEO (Graduate Employees’ Organization, AFT Local 3550) — graduate teaching assistants
- Skilled Trades Union — HVAC, electrical, plumbing, building trades
- Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM) — DPSS sworn officers
Tenure-stream faculty are not unionized at Michigan, which is notable for a public R1 of this scale. Michigan Medicine has separate union structures covered in our Healthcare hub.
Skilled trades workers at Michigan often pursue apprenticeships through union locals. For step-by-step guides on building-trade career paths — IBEW electrical training, plumber and HVAC apprenticeships, and others — see our Learn a Trade hub. For an overview of how union and non-union pathways differ on pay, training length, benefits, and pension, see our Union vs Non-Union Apprenticeship comparison.
Student Employment
Student employment is a meaningful part of the Michigan workforce, with thousands of undergraduates working in residence halls, dining services, library systems, recreation centers, and academic departments at hourly rates aligned with the local minimum wage standards. Graduate students may work as Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) or Graduate Student Research Assistants (GSRAs); both are unionized through GEO and include tuition waiver, stipend, and health insurance benefits during the appointment. Most student positions are posted at careers.umich.edu under the Student category. Student employment is intended to support educational goals, not as a primary career path; this guide focuses on career-track employment for adults.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for jobs at the University of Michigan?
All applications run through careers.umich.edu. Create an account, search by Staff, Faculty, Temporary, or Student category, prepare your resume and cover letter (and CV/research materials for faculty roles), and submit through the portal. Email applications are not accepted.
What is the average pay at the University of Michigan?
Pay varies widely by role. Service positions (custodial, food service, grounds) typically pay $17–$24 per hour. Mid-career professional staff earn $70,000–$110,000. Senior staff and director-level roles pay $120,000–$200,000+. Faculty pay depends on rank and discipline, with full professors in medicine, law, and business earning $200,000–$400,000+ annually.
Does Michigan offer tuition support to employees?
Yes — Michigan offers tuition support to eligible employees for coursework at U of M and, in some cases, other institutions. Eligibility, percentage covered, and dependent inclusion vary by program type and employee category. Confirm specifics with HR during the application process and request the details be attached to your offer letter in writing.
Are University of Michigan staff jobs unionized?
Many are. AFSCME Local 1583 represents service and maintenance workers; LEO represents lecturers; GEO represents graduate teaching assistants; the Skilled Trades Union covers building trades; POAM represents DPSS officers. Tenure-stream faculty are not unionized at Michigan. Union membership often comes with collectively bargained pay scales, grievance procedures, and seniority-based advancement.
What’s the difference between University of Michigan jobs and Michigan Medicine jobs?
Michigan Medicine is a separate legal entity that includes the medical school, hospitals, and clinics. It has its own HR department, applicant tracking system, and union structures (notably the Michigan Nurses Association and the House Officers Association for residents). For Michigan Medicine jobs, see our Healthcare hub. This page covers the university itself — faculty, academic and administrative staff, athletics, library, food service, custodial, and trades.
How long does the hiring process at U of M take?
Entry-level service staff: 2–4 weeks from application to offer. Mid-career staff: 4–8 weeks. Senior management and director-level: 8–12 weeks. Faculty searches: 4–6 months including national search committee, on-campus visits, and job talks.
Do I need a degree to work at the University of Michigan?
Not for many positions. Custodial, food service, grounds, transportation, public safety (with academy training), and skilled trades roles do not require a four-year degree. Most administrative and professional staff positions require a bachelor’s degree. Faculty positions typically require a doctorate or terminal degree in the field. Tuition support makes Michigan a strong path for adults who want to complete a degree while working.
Does Michigan offer remote work?
Some staff roles offer hybrid schedules; fully remote roles are less common but exist in IT, finance, and some administrative functions. Faculty and instructional roles are predominantly on-campus. Service, trades, and operations roles are by nature on-campus. Remote work eligibility is set per role and per department; check the job posting and confirm with the hiring manager during interviews.