Employing students can be a great option that provides valuable work experience to students as they complete their studies, as well as support to the departments in which they work. The recommendations below can help you and your department determine appropriate pay for student employees. For information on who is eligible to be a student employee, visit HR-101 Employee Status.

Many student positions are posted via Hire Mizzou Tigers. Student titles that apply to both undergraduate and graduate students can be categorized into two levels. The level that suits a particular role depends on the degree of skill, supervision and work involved.

Characteristics Level I Level II
Skills and Knowledge No special skills, training or work experience required. Learns assigned tasks, understand and follows oral and written instructions and communicates effectively with others. Work requires some training, specialized skills or related experience.
Supervision Received Frequent and direct supervision of work performed and outcomes. General supervision.
Supervision Exercised None None
Scope of Work Tasks require short periods (hours) of time to complete with interaction internal to the unit. Tasks require a minimum amount of time (day(s)) to a period of a week to complete.
Decision Making Skills No to little decision making involved with tasks. Some decision making involved in tasks performed.
Training/Advice Given Only a minimal amount of on-the-job training is required. General or limited guidance or instruction given.
Examples of Tasks Filing, reception, sorting/delivering mail, word processing, manual labor. Clerical assistant, data entry operator, lab helper, manual labor, peer advisor, switchboard operator, IT user support.
Examples of Titles Student assistants at clerical, crafts & service, information technology or technical level Student assistants at clerical, crafts & service, information technology, research, teaching or technical level, graduate assistant and peer learning assistant.

Graduate Assistants are paid via stipend rather than hourly rate. Assistantships must be approved through Graduate Studies.

Characteristics Master's, Specialists and Doctoral Level
Skills and Knowledge Work requires a specialized skill or area of knowledge, as well as previous related experience or training. Generally requires an advanced degree or enrollment in the pursuit of an advanced degree.
Supervision Received Work is supervised by graduate faculty, administrative staff and/or principal investigators.
Supervision Exercised Functional supervision may be exercised over staff/students.
Scope of Work Tasks are broad in scope, relevant to academic degree being pursued, and performed over the course of a semester or academic year.
Decision Making Skills Makes frequent decisions regarding tasks, time, data; may evaluate performance of others. Manages own workload.
Training/Advice Given Minimal guidance or instruction given. May mentor peers or undergraduate students.
Examples of Tasks Teaching and instructing students, advanced independent lab work, lab supervisor, library technician.
Examples of Titles Graduate fellow, graduate instructor, graduate library assistant, graduate research assistant, graduate teaching assistant