Many lecturers receive a fixed monthly salary of less than Rp3 million; how can they manage their expenses?

A research team's report on lecturers' welfare reveals that many lecturers receive a fixed monthly salary of less than Rp3 million. This accounts for 42.9% of the 1,196 respondents.

The second most common salary range is Rp3-5 million per month, chosen by 29.8% of respondents. Meanwhile, 27.3% of respondents earn more than Rp5 million per month.

The research team notes that this income can comprise a base salary, functional allowance, professional allowance, and various types of honoraria, such as teaching, mentoring, practical work, and others.

"Lecturers holding positions within universities also receive additional structural position allowances," wrote the research team in a publication by *The Conversation Indonesia* on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Furthermore, the team adds that some lecturers receive variable and uncertain income, such as honoraria for being a resource person, publication incentives, and other incidental honoraria.

"For more than half of the participants (53.6%), this uncertain income is still below Rp1 million per month," the team wrote.

The research team, comprising academics from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), University of Indonesia (UI), and Mataram University (Unram), observed that many assume all lecturers receive substantial professional allowances (lecturer certification/serdos). The team refutes this, as not all lecturers receive this component.

"Even if they receive it, the amount is only equal to one month's base salary according to their rank, usually only processed after working for at least four years, and often not commensurate with their qualifications," the research team explained.

Even for civil servant (PNS) lecturers with a doctoral degree (S3) holding the functional position of lecturer or assistant professor, their serdos allowance is only Rp2,802,300.

"This figure lags significantly behind, for example, the performance allowance at the Ministry of Finance (Kemenkeu) for S1 graduates, which amounts to Rp3,980,000," the research team stated.

(See also: [Ramai Soal Gaji Tidak Layak Terhadap Dosen, Berapa Ketentuannya dari Pemerintah?](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/05/05/ramai-soal-gaji-tidak-layak-terhadap-dosen-berapa-ketentuannya-dari-pemerintah))

Besides the perceived low income, lecturers still have to bear their family's living expenses. 73.7% of research participants confirmed this.

The most frequently selected expenditure amount by respondents is Rp3-5 million per month. 31% of lecturers stated they spend this amount to meet their daily needs.

Others spend Rp2-3 million per month (27.9% of respondents), while 24.4% spend Rp5-10 million.

A considerable number of lecturers spend more than Rp10 million on their monthly needs (12.2% of respondents). The remaining 4.5% spend Rp0-1 million.

Lecturers' salaries are considered far from adequate. The research team notes that the salaries are very close to the average provincial minimum wage (UMP) in Indonesia, approximately Rp2,910,632 in 2023.

The research team cites the International Labour Organization (ILO), which states that a decent income must meet not only the minimum wage but also social security.

This means considering other essential expenditures such as healthcare, children's education, and the cost of participating in social life.

"Social security must also consider emergency funds when facing potential job loss and accident risks," the research team wrote.

This survey was conducted on 1,196 active lecturers. Most have a master's degree (S2) as their highest education (82.2%) and have worked for 0-10 years (79.8%). Data was collected in April 2023.

(See also: [Jumlah Dosen di Indonesia, dari Aceh sampai Papua](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2022/09/05/jumlah-dosen-di-indonesia-dari-aceh-sampai-papua))