Quick Answer: The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) employs approximately 47,000 people across the academic, research, and UCLA Health enterprises. The campus-only workforce (excluding UCLA Health) is roughly 23,000. Pay ranges from $22–$30/hr for service positions to $300,000+ for senior faculty in premium fields. Apply through careers.ucla.edu. UC offers comprehensive benefits including a defined-benefit pension and tuition reduction.
Working at UCLA
UCLA is one of the largest public research universities in the country and the largest employer in West Los Angeles. Counting UCLA Health, the institution supports roughly 47,000 jobs; the campus proper employs about 23,000 in academic, research, professional staff, athletics, library, food service, and operations roles. UCLA Health (Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, and the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital) operates as a separate enterprise covered in our Healthcare hub.
How to Apply at UCLA
- Create an applicant account at careers.ucla.edu.
- Search by category (Staff, Academic, Health Sciences, Student Services).
- Faculty applications go through UC Recruit (recruit.apo.ucla.edu).
- Submit resume, cover letter, and 3 references through the portal.
- Background check required. Some positions require fingerprinting per California law.
UCLA 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 / Senior 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 (medicine, law, business, engineering) | $240,000–$500,000+ |
California is a pay-transparency state. UC publishes salary ranges in job postings and maintains a public employee salary database.
Benefits at UCLA
Health insurance: Multiple UC-administered health plans including HMOs, PPO, and Kaiser options.
Retirement: UC Retirement Plan (UCRP) defined-benefit pension — one of the most generous public pension systems in the country — plus voluntary 403(b)/457(b) supplemental options.
Tuition reduction: UC offers a Reduced Fee Enrollment program that allows eligible career employees to take a limited number of courses per year at substantially reduced fees within the UC system. Eligibility, course caps, and rules vary by employee category. Confirm specifics with HR during the application process.
How to Ask About Tuition Reduction
- Wait for the interview stage.
- Ask: “Could you walk me through the tuition reduction or fee-reduction program for employees in this role? I’d like to understand eligibility, courses per term, and any service requirement.”
- Note that UC’s Reduced Fee Enrollment is more limited than tuition remission programs at private universities — verify specifics in writing.
- Ask about UC’s Tuition Exchange Program for dependents.
Unions at UCLA
UCLA has one of the most heavily unionized workforces in higher education. Major bargaining units include:
- AFSCME 3299 — service workers (custodial, food service, grounds, patient care)
- UPTE-CWA 9119 — technical and research employees
- UAW Local 4811 — academic student employees (TAs, graduate researchers, postdocs)
- CNA — California Nurses Association at UCLA Health (Healthcare hub)
- Skilled Trades — trades workers represented through respective national craft unions
Senate faculty are not unionized at UC. UCLA Health has separate union structures covered in our Healthcare hub. Skilled trades workers at UCLA often pursue apprenticeships through Los Angeles-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.
Student Employment
UCLA employs thousands of students in residence halls, dining services, library systems, recreation centers, and academic departments at hourly rates aligned with the Los Angeles minimum wage. Graduate students may serve as Teaching Assistants, Graduate Student Researchers, or Readers; all are unionized through UAW Local 4811 and include partial fee remission, stipends, and health insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply at UCLA?
Create an account at careers.ucla.edu, search by category, and submit your application materials through the portal. Faculty applications go through UC Recruit at recruit.apo.ucla.edu.
What is the average pay at UCLA?
Service $22–$30/hr; mid-career staff $80,000–$130,000; faculty $95,000–$500,000+ depending on rank and discipline.
Does UCLA offer tuition benefits?
UC offers a Reduced Fee Enrollment program for eligible career employees, allowing limited coursework at reduced fees within the UC system. This is more limited than tuition remission at private universities. Confirm specifics with HR.
Are UCLA jobs unionized?
Many are. AFSCME 3299, UPTE-CWA 9119, UAW Local 4811, and CNA represent large categories of UC workers. Senate faculty are not unionized.
What’s the difference between UCLA and UCLA Health jobs?
UCLA Health is a separate health-system enterprise. See our Healthcare hub for UCLA Health employment.