CUPA-HR’s signature surveys collect data on composition and pay equity on all higher ed administrator, faculty, professional, and staff positions. To explore trends in composition and pay equity for custom comparison groups or specific positions, subscribe to DataOnDemand.
Professionals work in a specific functional area, such as academic or student services. Their positions generally require at least a baccalaureate degree or functional equivalent. These interactive graphics show composition and pay equity by gender and race/ethnicity for higher ed professionals over time. Examples of professionals in higher ed include HR benefits specialist, accountant, student housing officer, systems programmer, and head coach.
Composition of Professionals by Gender and Race/Ethnicity
Key Findings: Overall, women represent nearly two-thirds (61%) of all professionals in higher ed. Women have even greater representation in Human Resources (84%), Academic Advisors and Instructional Development (73%), and Admissions and Financial Aid (73%).
From 2016-17 to 2024-25, the representation of professionals of color grew by 6 percentage points, from 21% to 27%. Most of this growth is due to increased numbers of women of color in professional positions. The proportion of women of color had the biggest percentage-point increase (6%) in Student Affairs positions — from 16% in 2016-17 to 22% in 2024-25.
Navigating the Chart: Use the drop down-menu to select a professional area. Click the labels in the legend to remove data from view, and then select a specific year or the “Animate All Years” button to see how percentages have changed over time. For example, to see the percentage of women in these positions, click “Men” in the legend to remove men from the graphic.
Median Pay Ratios for Professionals by Gender, Race/Ethnicity, and Professional Area
Key Findings: Across all professional positions, Black, Hispanic/Latina, and White women have been paid less than White men since 2016-17. In 2024-25, they are paid between $0.95 to $0.99 for every dollar White men are paid. However, median pay ratios for Black, Hispanic/Latina, and White women have been highest in the past two years, which indicates progress in pay equity for them. Asian men and women were the only racial/ethnic group who have been paid more than White men since 2016-17. In 2024-25, they are paid between $1.05 to $1.07 for every dollar White men are paid.
Women are not seeing progress in pay equity in every area. Black, Hispanic/Latina, and White women in Information Technology are paid between $0.89 to $0.93 for every dollar White men are paid in 2024-25. This trend has held since 2016-17 and shows no evidence of progress.
Navigating the Chart: Use the drop down-menu to select a professional area. Click the “Animate All Years” button to note changes in pay equity over time. Alternatively, slide the circle side-to-side in the bar to change the year.
Methodology
Data were collected in CUPA-HR’s Professionals in Higher Education Survey with an effective date of November 1 of each academic year. (For these charts, the academic year is denoted with the last part of the year, e.g., 2025 is academic year 2024-25). Analyses include only non-profit institutions of higher education; each year of professionals’ data includes data from at least 795 colleges and universities and at least 146,487 professionals.
Median pay ratios control for position. Median salaries by race/ethnicity and sex for each professional position were obtained; then the median of those medians was calculated by race/ethnicity and sex. Finally, each group’s median salary was divided by the median salary of White men to calculate the pay ratio. This controls for the fact that women and people of color may be represented differently in specific positions that pay higher or lower salaries, and it means that the wage gaps present are not explained by the fact that women or people of color may have greater representation in lower-paying positions.
Additional Resources
For more information and data on higher ed professionals, see our comprehensive report, The Higher Ed Professional Workforce: Composition and Pay Equity by Gender and Race/Ethnicity From 2016-17 to 2023-24, and our special focus report, The Higher Education Environmental Health, Safety, and Security Workforce.
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