It is now cheaper to buy a home in Connecticut than it is in Maine. The news is good for the value of your property, but not as good when you consider your salary and purchasing power. The effects of the pandemic on all Mainers is real, and for faculty and staff in Maine’s public universities and community colleges the impacts have placed pay below all other New England states.
While faculty salaries increased by an average of one or two percent between 2019 and 2020 and 2020-2021, it’s not nearly enough to keep up with the rise in inflation.
MEA continues to work at the state level to advocate for increased funding for our public colleges and universities so at the campus level you can receive more. MEA encourages you to use the information on these pages to educate yourself on each campus, pay and much more. The faculty salary report is based on data for faculty on 9/10 month contracts only. Changes in average faculty salaries are reported only for institutions responding to the National Center for Education Statistics Salary surveys in both 2019-20 and 2020-21. All dollar amounts are reported in thousands.
Faculty Salaries in New England
Nationwide, the average salary for full-time faculty on 9/10-month contracts was $91,916 in 2020-2021. Maine and Vermont were the only two states in New England to fall below that average.
Average Salaries and Change in Salaries on 9/10-month Contracts , by State and Sector – 2019-2020 to 2020-2021 % Change in Salaries
| State | Public 4-Year | Public 2-Year | Private | Public 4-Year | Public 2-Year | Private |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $110,533 (4) | $87,111 (2) | $121,250 (3) | 5% | 7% | 0% |
| Maine | $83,398 (37) | $61,156 (29) | $89,913 (18) | 3% | 4% | 1% |
| Massachusetts | $101,745 (7) | $68,956 (19) | $126,251 (1) | 0% | 4% | 1% |
| New Hampshire | $96,076 (15) | $71,239 (16) | $115,586 (7) | 1% | 7% | 4% |
| Rhode Island | $94,558 (20) | $65,835 (22) | $120,944 (4) | 1% | 8% | 2% |
| Vermont | $89,279 (26) | $65,691 (23) | $87,717 (20) | 1% | 3% | 2% |
Purchasing Power Reduction
Previous gains in faculty purchasing power also were reversed. Faculty in all ranks saw their purchasing power take a sharp downward turn in 2020-21. Declines ranged from $600 to $2,600, or 1 to 3 percent, depending on rank.
Education Discipline Not Valued
Faculty in health fields are the most highly paid in 4-year institutions—and the lowest paid in 2-year institutions. Meanwhile, engineering and architecture are at or near the top for both 2- and 4-year institutions. The least-paid faculty at 4-year institutions work in education and library science are the least-well paid faculty in 4-year institutions ($74,000).
Your Union Making a Difference
Research identifies a number of benefits related to unions and collective bargaining, both for workers and for the economy. Among the benefits for workers are: a wage premium for union members; more workers having benefits such as health insurance, pensions, and paid time off; and higher wages for typically lower-wage jobs, thus mitigating pay inequities.
