Research and teaching assistants receive a monthly salary as well as a full tuition scholarship. The compensation for research and teaching assistants is adjusted to make the appointments equally attractive, taking into account the availability of tuition scholarships, the opportunities for thesis research, and other benefits connected with each. Salary levels are established each year by individual departments within guidelines approved by the Academic Council in discussion with the Provost.
A department may not assign a salary (exclusive of tuition and fees) above these guidelines without specific approval of the Office of Graduate Education. Graduate student staff members should recognize that their salary is not intended necessarily to cover the full cost of living.
Normally, assistants are paid by direct deposit into their individual bank accounts. In some cases, however, payment by check may be necessary. In such cases, checks should be picked up in person at Accounts Receivable. The Institute is obliged to withhold federal and Massachusetts income taxes from the salaries of teaching and research assistants. Assistants must file the necessary federal and Massachusetts tax withholding forms through the MIT Atlas system. Failure to submit these forms will result in the required maximum tax being withheld.
