Overall Rating Platinum
Overall Score 86.87
Liaison Carrie Metzgar
Submission Date Nov. 5, 2024

STARS v2.2

University of California, San Diego
PA-12: Employee Compensation

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 0.32 / 3.00 Carrie Metzgar
Campus Sustainability Officer
Utilities & Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Part 1. Living wage for employees

The local living wage (based on a family of four and expressed as an hourly wage):
30.58 US/Canadian $

Percentage of employees that receive a living wage (benefits excluded):
80.30

Part 2. Living wage for employees of contractors

Does the institution have significant contractors with employees that work on-site as part of regular and ongoing campus operations?:
No

A list or brief description of significant on-site contractors:

N/A


Percentage of employees of on-site contractors known to receive a living wage or be covered by collective bargaining agreements (i.e., union contracts):
---

Part 3. Minimum total compensation for employees

Total compensation provided to the institution’s lowest paid regular, part-time or full-time employee or pay grade meets or exceeds what percentage of the living wage?:
None of the above (i.e. the lowest paid regular employee or pay grade earns less than the living wage)

A brief description of the minimum total compensation provided to the institution’s lowest paid employee or pay grade:

The lowest paid regular full-time or part-time employee at UC San Diego is the Coach Assistant 3 at $16.76/hour (pay range minimum). UC San Diego provides a benefits package to this group of employees worth 47.3% of salary or $7.93/hour. The total compensation (including wages and benefits according to survey) for the lowest-paid regular workers is $24.69/hour, which is 80.7% of living wage. 
 
Living wage calculation for San Diego, CA for 2 Working Adults, 2 Children, is $30.58 (as of December 7, 2023; view attachment below.) 


Optional Fields 

Has the institution made a formal commitment to pay a living wage?:
Yes

A copy or brief description of the institution’s written policy stating its commitment to a living wage:

In July 2015, University of California announced a new minimum wage plan for UC employees. Titled the “UC Fair Wage/Fair Work Plan," (https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation/compensation-guidelines/compensation-policies/uc-fair-wage-fair-work-plan/) the program guarantees that by October 2017 UC employees hired to work at least 20 hours a week be paid at least $15 per hour.  

California’s current state minimum wage is $16/hour. Due to the high cost of living within San Diego, California, the living wage calculation for 2 working Adults, 2 Children (according to MIT Living Wage Calculator – see Part 1 above), is currently $30.58/hour (50-52% more than UC’s fair wage plan and California’s minimum wage). 
 
UC San Diego pays all employees at least $16.30/hour, and pays 80.3% of staff employees a wage that is equal to or greater than the living wage for San Diego at $30.58/hour. In addition, UC San Diego provides a benefits package to the lowest paid staff employees worth 47.3% or $7.93/hour. The total compensation (wages and benefits) for the lowest-paid workers at $16.76/hour is $24.69/hour, which is 80.7% of living wage. 
 
On an annual basis, the University reviews the market in relationship to its non-represented salary ranges to determine if the salary range minimums and maximums need to be adjusted. Individuals working at 50% time or more for a minimum of one year receive full benefits during the first month of employment. The employee’s share of medical premiums is calculated on an income-sensitive basis, with lower-paid employees receiving the largest employer subsidy. The vision and dental plans are fully paid for by the University. An eligible employee who has exhausted all paid leave due to a serious illness or injury or because the employee is caring for a seriously ill family member may apply for catastrophic leave which allows for the continuation of salary to minimize financial hardship. 


Website URL where information about employee compensation is available:
https://blink.ucsd.edu/HR/comp-class/compensation/index.html

Additional documentation to support the submission:
MIT_Living_Wage_Calculator_12_07_2023_30.58.png

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:

The representative point used for this credit was late fall 2023. This is in alignment and consistent with the timeframe used for all Wellbeing & Work credits (2023-2024); per credit criteria. In December 2023, MIT’s Living Wage Calculator listed the local living wage for 2 working Adults, 2 Children as $30.58. We developed our responses for this credit based off of this living wage and 2023 UC San Diego wage data.

 

Points of contact for credit information:  

  • Carrie Metzgar, Campus Sustainability Officer, Utilities & Sustainability 

  • Mila Goff, Director of Compensation, Human Resources: People, Programs & Rewards 

  • Selena Samaniego, Principal Compensation Analyst, Human Resources: People, Programs & Rewards


The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.