2026 base salary and merit increases for faculty and staff

From: Human Resources and the Provost Office

With the approval of the Commonwealth of Virginia budget and following Virginia Tech leadership approval of the university’s base salary and merit program for faculty and staff:

• Faculty and university staff meeting the eligibility requirements will receive a 2.5 percent base salary increase.
• In addition, a 1.0 percent differential pool was allotted to Senior Management Areas to recognize top performers as a National Distinction/ Outstanding Contributor Program (NDP/OC) award for faculty, and as merit for university staff. 
• As required by the state, classified staff meeting the eligibility requirements will receive a base salary increase of 3.5 percent. These positions are governed by the state’s personnel policies and are not eligible for additional merit increases under Virginia Tech’s process. 

To be eligible to receive a salary increase:

• T&R faculty must have been hired by Dec. 10, 2025, and must not have received an unsatisfactory annual evaluation rating or been subject to a sanction or written notice in the last year (July 10, 2025, through July 10, 2026). NDP increases are merit-based as evaluated by Faculty Activity Reports (FARs) and/or other relevant performance-related information.
• A/P faculty must have been hired by April 25, 2026, and must not have received an unsatisfactory annual evaluation rating or been subject to a formal sanction or written notice in the last year (July 10, 2025, through July 10, 2026). OC increases are merit-based as evaluated by information included in FARs.
• University staff must have been hired by April 25, 2025, and rated “Exceptional” or “Meets” on their last performance evaluation to be eligible for an increase. University staff who received a performance evaluation rating of “Does Not Meet” or have been subject to a formal written notice in the last year (July 10, 2025, through July 10, 2026) are not eligible for an increase.​ 
• Classified staff who have at least a “Meets” performance rating on their most recent evaluation will receive a base salary increase as these positions are governed by the state.

Employees receiving an increase will be notified by your department.

If you have questions about the base increase or merit program, contact your supervisor, or college or department human resources representative.