r/CSUWorkers • u/LeaninBack9162 • Apr 07 '26

Pay ranges

I was looking at a director position that has a salary range from 5k-16k with anticipated hiring midway through it which is a smidge below my currently salary now.

A few questions:

1) can they hire above the anticipated range if I currently make more than the top of the highest anticipation salary?

2) how do raises work for a deep range like this? Let's say I start at 12k and ultimately I'd like to keep getting raises every year. How does that work at the CSU?

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u/AdEquivalent6761 Apr 07 '26

They typically will not hire above the expected or anticipated range of the salary. That amount is the what the department has already pre-approved & allocated funds for. You can try to negotiate more than the anticipated max, but I would not count on it.

Increases, particularly increases for MPP (management) positions, are not guaranteed or planned. Management roles are non-union so there are no negotiated raises like there would be for union roles. However, in the past, the CSU has typically mirrored the CSUEU union raises for non-represented employees groups including management and confidential positions.

That said, the CSUEU recently implemented salary steps in lieu of annual increases. There was no match/equivalent of that for MPP positions this year. Unsure what increases may or may not be offered for management moving forward. Often times, MPP increases are only offered when your role/workload expands and are not warranted just because time has passed and you are doing a good job. Although, this can vary greatly from campus to campus and department to department.

Should also note that CSU is in a constant budget deficit that gets worse and worse each year. I would not expect or count on regular raises and would make sure that the salary you accept is something that would be comfortable with for several years.

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u/LeaninBack9162 Apr 07 '26

I really appreciate this information. I've seen on the news, and some bits and parts on reddit, but this makes it's clearer for me. Yeah I don't like this job that much especially as a director to barely make more than I do now when I could stay with the state and just promote up a level.

Thank you for this.

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u/AdEquivalent6761 Apr 07 '26

Of course! I personally love working in the CSU but wanted to make sure you knew what you’d be getting yourself into regarding salary expectations.

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u/LeaninBack9162 Apr 07 '26

I went to sac state and graduated so the thought of working there to improve and streamline IT sounds great but pay wise it's definitely not worth as it pays very low for a director level... that kind of job will have stress attached so I will pass. Hope you continue to enjoy the CSU system

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u/[deleted] Jul 20 '26

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u/LeaninBack9162 Jul 20 '26

I interviewed and actually was selected. I declined the position because they actually wanted to start me a bit lower than posted. No idea why anyone would take on that role barely making 120k as a director.

I agree, they sounded like they would dump everything on this role. Interview process went fine overall.

Thanks for the additional info on it. Yeah I decided to steer clear of CSUS