Quick Answer: The University of California, Berkeley employs approximately 37,000 people across the academic, research, and operations enterprise, making it one of the largest employers in the East Bay. Pay ranges from $22–$30/hr for service positions to $300,000+ for senior faculty in premium fields. Apply through careers.berkeley.edu. UC offers a defined-benefit pension and a Reduced Fee Enrollment tuition benefit.
Working at UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley is the flagship campus of the University of California system and a Carnegie R1 public research university. Approximately 37,000 employees support faculty, professional staff, technical staff, athletics, library, food service, and operations roles. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, operated by UC for the U.S. Department of Energy, is a separate but affiliated workforce.
How to Apply at Berkeley
- Create an applicant account at careers.berkeley.edu.
- Search by category (Staff, Academic, Student Services).
- Faculty applications go through UC Recruit at aprecruit.berkeley.edu.
- Submit resume, cover letter, and 3 references through the portal.
- Background check required.
Berkeley Pay Ranges
| Role | Pay |
|---|---|
| Custodial / Food Service / Grounds | $22–$30/hr |
| Skilled Trades | $38–$55/hr |
| Administrative Assistant | $48,000–$65,000 |
| Mid-career Manager | $80,000–$130,000 |
| Director | $140,000–$240,000+ |
| Assistant Professor | $95,000–$160,000 |
| Associate Professor | $120,000–$200,000 |
| Full Professor (humanities) | $160,000–$240,000 |
| Full Professor (law, business, engineering) | $220,000–$450,000+ |
Benefits at Berkeley
Health insurance: Multiple UC-administered health plans including Kaiser, HMO, and PPO options.
Retirement: UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) defined-benefit pension plus voluntary 403(b)/457(b) supplemental options.
Tuition reduction: UC’s Reduced Fee Enrollment program allows eligible career employees to take a limited number of courses per year at substantially reduced fees within the UC system. Confirm specifics with HR.
How to Ask About Tuition Reduction
- Wait for the interview stage.
- Ask about UC’s Reduced Fee Enrollment program: eligibility, course cap, and any service requirement.
- Confirm specifics in writing in the offer letter.
- Ask about UC’s Tuition Exchange options for dependents.
Unions at UC Berkeley
Berkeley shares the UC system’s heavily unionized workforce structure:
- AFSCME 3299 — service workers
- UPTE-CWA 9119 — technical and research employees
- UAW Local 4811 — academic student employees, TAs, graduate researchers, and postdocs
- Skilled Trades — building trades workers through respective national craft unions and Bay Area locals
Senate faculty are not unionized at UC. Skilled trades workers at Berkeley often pursue apprenticeships through Bay Area union locals — see our Learn a Trade hub for guides on IBEW electrical training, plumber and HVAC apprenticeships, and other building-trade pathways, plus our Union vs Non-Union Apprenticeship comparison. For UC-affiliated medical employment, see our Healthcare hub.
Student Employment
UC Berkeley employs thousands of students in residence halls, dining services, library systems, recreation centers, and academic departments at hourly rates aligned with the Berkeley minimum wage. Graduate students serve as TAs, GSRs, or Readers and are unionized through UAW Local 4811.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply at UC Berkeley?
Create an account at careers.berkeley.edu, search by category, and submit application materials. Faculty roles go through UC Recruit at aprecruit.berkeley.edu.
What is the average pay at UC Berkeley?
Service $22–$30/hr; mid-career staff $80,000–$130,000; faculty $95,000–$450,000+ depending on rank and discipline.
Does UC Berkeley offer tuition benefits?
UC’s Reduced Fee Enrollment program allows eligible employees limited coursework at reduced fees within the UC system.
Are UC Berkeley jobs unionized?
Many are. AFSCME 3299, UPTE-CWA 9119, and UAW Local 4811 represent large categories of UC workers. Senate faculty are not unionized.