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The number of people who work in higher education grew by about 4.4 percent from 2003 to 2004, to a total of more than 3.3 million, according to a new report by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics. Most of the growth occurred at public universities and at for-profit colleges, and much of it came among employees who provide instruction rather than among administrators.
The report, "Employees in Postsecondary Institutions, Fall 2004, and Salaries of Full-Time Instructional Faculty, 2004–05," finds that the number of employees at American colleges that grant federal financial aid through the Education Department's Title IV programs rose to 3,335,093 in fall 2004, up from 3,194,610 in fall 2003. Of the more than 3.3 million employees in 2004, about two-thirds -- 2,162,081 -- worked full time and 1,173,012 worked part time.
Far more employees worked at public colleges and universities, which enroll by far the greatest number of students. About 90 percent of the staff growth took place in public institutions and for-profit institutions, as the following table shows:
Employees at American Colleges that Award Federal Financial Aid, by Institution Type, 2003-4
| Institution type | 2004 Employees | 2003 Employees |
| All institutions | 3,355,093 | 3,194,610 |
| Public | 2,221,224 | 2,163,264 |
| Private nonprofit | 958,663 | 936,845 |
| Private for-profit | 155,206 | 94,501 |
Much has been written and said about administrative bloat in American higher education, but a majority of the growth that occurred between 2003 and 2004, at least, came among those who in some way teach students. Of the employee increase of 140,483, nearly 80,000 were either instructional faculty members or graduate teaching assistants.
Employees at American Colleges That Award Federal Aid, by Job Duties, 2003-4
| Job duties | 2004 | 2003 | % Change |
| Total | 3,335,093 | 3,194,610 | 4.4% |
| Primarily instruction | 951,869 | 888,656 | 7.1 |
| Instruction/research/public service | 257,954 | 249,429 | 3.4 |
| Primarily research | 46,732 | 46,993 | -0.6 |
| Primarily public service | 19,933 | 19,045 | 4.7 |
| Executive/administrative | 194,351 | 183,416 | 6.0 |
| Support/service | 644,887 | 605,285 | 6.5 |
| Graduate assistants | 300,475 | 293,874 | 2.2 |
| Technical/paraprofessional | 191,176 | 190,099 | 0.6 |
| Clerical/secretarial | 440,668 | 434,129 | 1.5 |
| Skilled crafts | 61,945 | 61,231 | 1.1 |
| Service/maintenance | 225,103 | 222,453 | 1.2 |
The report also includes some data on salaries and benefits of full-time faculty members.
It found that the average nine-month salary for full-time full professors in fall 2004 was $87,634; for associate professors, $63,567; for assistant professors, $53,481; for instructors, $46,238; and for lecturers, $44,385. The figures were higher in most categories at private institutions than public, and far lower across the board at for-profit colleges.
The study found the following average benefits, adjusted to cover the traditional nine-month period, for full-time instructional faculty members in 2004:
Average Fringe Benefits of Full-Time Faculty, 2004-5 Academic Year
| Type of fringe benefit | All institutions | Public | Private nonprofit | For-profit |
| Retirement plan (vested within 5 years) | $6,325 | $6,333 | $6,478 | $1,317 |
| Retirement plan (vested after 5 years) | 5,561 | 5,767 | 4,004 | 1,651 |
| Medical/dental plans | 6,069 | 6,308 | 5,7120 | 3,315 |
| Group life insurance | 208 | 191 | 220 | 416 |
| Other insurance benefits | 911 | 952 | 884 | 504 |
| Disability protection | 281 | 279 | 278 | 375 |
| Tuition plan (dependents) | 3,922 | 1,291 | 7,133 | 3,095 |
| Housing plan | 4,503 | 3,744 | 4,882 | n/a |
| Social Security taxes | 4,240 | 4,132 | 4,634 | 2,520 |
| Unemployment compensation | 238 | 199 | 298 | 563 |
| Worker's compensation | 481 | 471 | 500 | 497 |
| Other benefits in kind (with cash options) | 1,625 | 1,732 | 1,506 | 887 |
