Student Employment Services
Students at The University of Alabama may seek part-time employment through on or off-campus employers. By working, students can earn wages to assist with education related expenses and reduce the need to borrow funds for college. Student employment assists with developing essential job and life skills and provides opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, students and the Tuscaloosa community. Student Employment Services is a part of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and may be contacted at 205-348-6756 or studentemployment@ua.edu.
Federal Work-Study Employment
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a need-based program with limited federal funding. Eligibility is based on a student’s financial need, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and available federal funding. As students work, earnings are paid directly to the student and not applied to the student’s University bill. Students are paid biweekly, based on the pay rate and number of hours worked. New Freshman/Transfer students may work up to 15 hours per week. Returning/Continuing students may work up to 20 hours per week. Visit our Steps to Federal Work-Study Employment web page for more information.
Types of Federal Work-Study Jobs (Pay rates effective during the 2025 – 2026 academic year)
On-Campus
Campus departments offer a wide range of student employment opportunities, including roles in research, office assistant, library support, marketing, tutoring, graphic design, museums, lab assistant, food service and more. On-campus jobs pay a minimal rate of $10 per hour.
Off-Campus
Several off-campus employment opportunities are available for students in the Tuscaloosa area.
- Community Service Agencies: Positions pay $12 per hour, and are offered by local nonprofit, governmental, and community-based organizations that provide services to improve the lives of residents or to solve resident needs.
- America Reads and Counts Tutoring Program: Offered by Student Employment Services, pays $12 per hour and provides students with opportunities to work as reading and/or math tutors in local schools and organizations that provide family literacy programs.
Estimated Federal Work-Study Earnings
| Student Category | Hourly Rate | Hours per Week | Weeks per Semester | Earnings per Semester | Earnings per Academic Year |
| New Freshmen/Transfer | $10 | 15 | 15 | $2,250 | $4,500 |
| Returning/Continuing | $10 | 20 | 15 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
Non-Federal Work-Study Employment
See below for employment opportunities that are not based on available federal funding or financial need. Students do not need to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid to determine eligibility. Student wages are paid by the employer.
Job Location and Development (JLD) is a federally funded program that locates and develops off-campus job opportunities. Local businesses that hire students can post job openings at no cost. UA students can explore openings by visiting the JLD Job Board.
The UA Department of Human Resources provides a student job board that consists of on and off-campus employment opportunities. UA students can explore openings by visiting UA Student Jobs.