Number of Newcastle Uni staff earning over £100k almost triples despite £30 million cuts

The number of Newcastle University staff earning over £100,000 has almost tripled between 2016 and 2023.

According to data shared by the University and College Union (UCU) on X, salaries in the £100,001 to £190,001 range have risen sharply in the last seven years.

This comes after the institution faces £30 million in budget cuts elsewhere.

We did a little table, based on the annual reports, on the number of people earning over £100.000 a year. We're still waiting for the 23-24 numbers, but we see a trend…. https://t.co/GYY1AqPeBW pic.twitter.com/H2bnTvgY7m

— Newcastle University UCU (@NewcastleUniUCU) January 23, 2025

At the same time, the university is cutting its salary budget by £20 million, which equates to around 300 full time positions.

A voluntary redundancy scheme has also been reintroduced and is open to all staff, but compulsory job layoffs remain a possibility. The UCU is currently balloting members on potential industrial action, with results expected in February.

Professor Chris Day, Newcastle University vice-chancellor and president, saw his total salary rise from £387,800 in 2021/22 to £404,300 in 2022/23.

The UCU’s data also revealed:

Number of staff earning £100,001+
2016/17: 60
2022/23: 143

Number of staff earning £130,001+
2016/17: 14
2022/2023: 52

Number of staff earning £160,001+
2016/17: 1
2022/23: 15

Number of staff earning 190,001+
2016/17: 0
2022/23: 2

Total staff earning over £100,001
2016/17: 75
2022/23: 212

The UCU said: “Based on annual reports, we’ve compiled a table showing the rise in staff earning over £100,000 per year. While we’re still waiting for the 2023/24 figures, the trend is clear…”

In response, a spokesperson for Newcastle University said: “This information is disclosed annually in our accounts. The increase is due to several factors, including NHS pay rises for clinical staff and the impact of inflation. These numbers are comparable to other research-intensive universities.”

In September 2023, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported that Newcastle University was dealing with a £35 million funding short gap. This was said to be primarily due to a drop in international student enrolment.

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To address this, the university introduced a series of cost-cutting measures, including travel restrictions, a freeze on staff promotions, and a review of its building projects.

Tensions remain high amidst the possibility of industrial action.