The Khon Kaen University Council has approved a landmark revision of its personnel compensation structure, covering both academic and support staff. The new framework expands the career advancement ladder from four to eight levels and introduces a revised salary base to ensure that compensation is competitive with other top-tier universities and comparable to the private sector.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University, announced the outcome of the University Council meeting held on Wednesday, 6 May 2026. The key agenda item, “Personnel Remuneration Structure Adjustment,” marked the third major review of the university’s compensation system. The first review resulted in an approved pay rise for university employees, while the second approved adjustments to the starting salaries for all personnel categories. This most recent meeting addressed the comprehensive remuneration structure for all staff.
The new compensation framework introduces four key changes.
First, the number of career progression levels has been doubled from four to eight. For academic staff, the previous four levels—Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor—have been expanded to eight by creating two groups, A and B, 
within each of these positions. Similarly, support staff career paths, which previously consisted of four levels—Practitioner, Professional, Senior Professional, and Expert—will now have eight levels, with each position also divided into A and B groups. 
“The committee recognised that staff who have dedicated 20–30 years to the university previously had only four advancement steps. We believe that increasing the progression levels to eight is more appropriate for long-term career growth and human resource management,” said the President of Khon Kaen University.
The second key point is the establishment of a new salary scale. The revision increases compensation for both academic and support staff. For example, the maximum monthly salary for a Professor, previously approximately 115,200 THB, will increase to 150,000 THB, a rise of about 17%. 
For support staff at the Expert level, the salary will increase from approximately 96,660 THB to 107,000 THB, an increase of about 8%. Each level will now have a salary range with a 70% differential between the minimum and maximum pay.
Third, the committee conducted a comparative study of Khon Kaen University’s remuneration structure against that of other leading Thai universities, including Prince of Songkla University, Chiang Mai University, and Chulalongkorn University. The study found that KKU’s compensation rates are generally on par with these institutions, with some positions being higher and others lower, but the overall average is considered within the same standard.
Furthermore, personnel can receive additional income from position-based allowances and other mission-related compensation. For instance, a Professor in the academic stream, with all allowances included, could earn a total income exceeding 170,000 THB per month.
“This new pay scale is not only competitive with other universities but is also comparable to the private sector. This will be a significant incentive to attract more high-potential individuals to join Khon Kaen University,” stated Associate Professor Panthongviriyakul.
The fourth major change involves adjusting the salaries of current employees whose pay is below the new minimum for their respective groups. After modelling the new structure with current salary data, the working group found that approximately 400 employees were paid below the new minimum threshold. 
Consequently, the University Council approved an immediate adjustment to raise the salaries of these individuals to meet the new minimum for their group. This initiative will require a budget of 25 million THB. This adjustment will ensure all personnel are placed onto the new salary base simultaneously, establishing a new starting point for salary increase considerations for the 2027 fiscal year, beginning on 1 October 2026.
The University Council has appointed a committee to finalise the implementation of the new remuneration structure within the next two to three months. This timeline will ensure its completion in time for the salary increase reviews scheduled for 1 October 2026.
News: Benjamaporn Mamook
Photography: Nathaphong Chamnanua / Attaphon Hampong / Human Resource Division
