MSU Denver updates professional-staff pay structure  

Metropolitan State University of Denver has updated its professional-staff compensation structure to ensure salaries remain competitive, fair and provide employees with clear opportunities for career growth. This is the University’s first structural update since 2019 and follows recommendations from the 2024 Compensation Equity Study, conducted in partnership with Salary.com. 

The study found MSU Denver salaries are generally aligned with market benchmarks but recommended updating and simplifying ranges to: 

• Keep salaries aligned with market data. 

• Support career advancement by ensuring employees have room to grow within a range. 

• Increase efficiency by creating a clearer, more streamlined system with greater flexibility. 

“Updating ranges helps keep salaries competitive and fair,” said Stacy Dvergsdal, associate vice president for Administration and chief human resources officer. “Consolidating them provides employees with clearer opportunities for advancement and streamlines the process.” 

What’s changing 

• Professional staff: Pay ranges were streamlined from 22 to 13 and broadened to provide clearer progression and more room for growth. Consolidated ranges also make the compensation process more efficient, giving managers and employees a system that is simpler and more flexible.  
  • Most employees will see no change to their current pay.  
  • A small number of employees whose salaries were below the new minimums received increases effective Sept. 1. Those employees and their managers have been notified.
• Athletics: Human Resources created a separate pay structure using Rocky Mountain Athletics Conference (RMAC) market data. This change recognizes the unique nature of collegiate athletics roles in a specialized labor market, as identified in the Compensation Equity Study.  

These updates are in addition to the Faculty Compensation Structure changes announced last month, which are being addressed through a separate process.