Last updated: June 28, 2026
Professional staff overview
Professional staff are non-union, non-academic employees working at the University. Learn more about your position, excess compensation, and temporary pay increases.
Position and salary review
When a professional staff position’s duties and responsibilities expand or substantially change, the position may be reviewed to determine whether the position’s salary amount, job profile and/or compensation grade assignment should change.
Position review FAQ
This FAQ page answers several common questions about professional staff positions at compensation at the UW.
Additional compensation
If a professional staff employee temporarily takes on additional duties outside of their normal job duties, additional compensation may be appropriate in addition to their base pay. Find out what might qualify for additional compensation and the process for approvals.
Job profiles and descriptors – Professional staff
Job profile "descriptors" help identify the job profile to be assigned when creating or editing a position, or when a professional staff position is reviewed for a change in job profile. Each job profile descriptor provides a general description of the work the series typically performs.
Checklist – Create regular position
This checklist is to help HR Partners and Additional Approvers ensure that a create position request is complete.
Checklist – Create professional staff temporary position
HR Partners and additional approvers can use this checklist to ensure that a position request for a PSTP position is complete.
2023 Professional Staff Salary Survey
The University of Washington retained Milliman to conduct a cash compensation study for professional staff positions.