Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia will increase the minimum wage paid to salaried employees to $20,000 per year as part of the pay increases that will be effective Jan. 1, 2008. President Michael F. Adams made the announcement this week in connection with salary guidelines for the new fiscal year being distributed to department heads.

“We are once again pleased to be able to direct a portion of the university’s resources to those employees who most need it,” Adams said. “The university has taken some very large steps over the past five years to address the wages paid to our lowest-paid employees. We will continue to assess this issue year-to-year based on the support level available from the state and the University System.”

The increase for employees moving from $19,000 to $20,000 on Jan. 1 is 5.3 percent, compared to the 3.0 percent overall salary increase pool. The lowest-paid salaried employees at the university were paid $12,790 just five years ago, when the minimum level was increased to $15,000. The next year it was increased to $17,500 and last year to $19,000. The increase to $20,000 will affect 586 salaried employees.

In addition to the base salary, UGA makes a significant contribution toward the fringe benefits package that individual employees choose for themselves and their dependents. The increase affects all salaried employees who now make less than $20,000 regardless of whether they are paid from state funds or from other sources such as grants or auxiliary services.

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