Over half of Princeton undergraduates work a campus job during the academic year, according to Ahmad Rizvi, a media representative for the Student Employment Office. With 121 jobs and a total of 750 openings listed on the Princeton University Student Employment website, campus jobs play a vital role in supporting students academically and financially. The Daily Princetonian looked at categorizations and wages for student employees.
On Nov. 29, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) announced via email that Referendum No. 2, which calls for Princeton to set higher minimum standards for undergraduate workplaces, had passed. It received overwhelming support from the voting public, amassing 94 percent votes in favor. The Referendum heightened discourse surrounding student employee pay.
The 121 jobs listed — some of which have multiple openings — are divided into four types: Undergraduate, Federal-Work Study (FWS), Off-Campus Community Service, and Off-Campus Jobs. Undergraduate jobs represent about two-thirds of both campus jobs and open positions.
The most common undergraduate jobs are research positions, with 17 listed. Events and office work are also common, with 14 and 12 positions respectively. Similarly, office work is the most common federal work-study job listed, with four openings. Tutoring is by far the most commonly listed off-campus opening, with 16 jobs available, followed by childcare with seven.
Wages for undergraduate jobs follow a structured framework introduced in 2021 as part of a comprehensive review of student employment by the University. Currently, most undergraduate jobs pay $16 or $18 per hour, with 29 and 30 open jobs offered at these rates, respectively. These wages are set to increase on Dec. 23, 2024, with rates of $15.13 per hour roles rising to $15.50, $16 to $16.50, and $18.00 to $18.50.
The Student Employment Office reports no significant disparity in student interest between higher and lower-paying jobs, as, according to Ahmad Rizvi, a media representative for the Student Employment Office, “students advancing in their academic career tend to seek co-curricular opportunities that align more directly with their major.” According to Rizvi, this aligns with a broader trend of the number of research assistant and peer advising roles slightly increasing over the past three years.
For many students, job flexibility and supportive management are just as important as pay. Anthony Pleitez-Rivas ’28, who works at the Yeh College Office, told the ‘Prince’ that while he initially took the job to earn some spending money and stay busy, he has been especially impressed by its flexibility.
“The job is so flexible, and my bosses are incredible people,” he shared, adding that the support and understanding he receives from his supervisors make balancing work and academics much easier. “It’s a great fit around my schedule, and I really enjoy it.”
Most campus jobs require 10 hours a week of work or less, though some jobs, like some research assistant positions, require upwards of 20.
Despite the University eliminating the student contribution from students’ aid offers in 2023–24, both the percentage of students working and the number of hours worked actually increased slightly in the same academic year, according to Rizvi. This follows a similar trend from last fall.
Most student positions are active year-round, but seasonal hiring surges at the start of each term make the first two weeks critical for securing a job. As Rizvi explained, “the bulk of student hiring takes place in the two weeks before and after the start of each term,” meaning mid-semester job seekers often face fewer options.
“I just think working is a very easy thing to do here because student employment is meant to be built in around your class time,” said Pleitez-Rivas.
Danna Duarte is a contributing Data writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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