Letter to the editor: Wage disparity and wealth inequality

The article, “Penn State names 1st woman university president” (Dec. 9, TribLIVE) illustrates how wage disparity contributes to our wealth inequality.

The salaries for college instructors vary widely. A tenured full professor’s salary averages around $150,000 a year, while associate and assistant professors make less than two-thirds of that figure. Instructors and lecturers average about $60,000 to $65,000. Adjunct professors’ median annual salary is $32,000. The yearly total compensation of the new Penn State president is $1,300,000, approximately 9 times what the average tenured full-time professor makes and 40 times what the average adjunct professor makes.

College instructors do the basic work of the institutions of higher learning. Their talent and skills determine the success of educating our children. Their salaries do not reflect their contribution. The salaries of the support staff (administration) should not be many times greater than these essential workers.

The discrepancy goes even further. One-third of all adjunct professors make less than $20,000 yearly, which is below the poverty level; 25% rely on public assistance, and 36% to 50% of all classes are taught by adjuncts. Is this how we value the people educating our children?

The annual salary of Penn State’s football coach, $8 million, yearly, guaranteed for 10 years regardless of outcome or employment, further illustrates the inequities. The salary of the coach is 250 times the salary of a person teaching classes.

Inequality is the result of our tax and wage structures and demands our attention.

Joanne Garing

North Huntingdon