70% of Indonesian University Professors Earn Below Minimum Wage, Many Resort to Side Gigs

A stark reality faces many Indonesian university professors, with a recent survey revealing that 70% earn below the national minimum wage. This widespread issue stems from a lack of standardized salary scales, allowing universities to set professor compensation arbitrarily.

Professors, whether at public or private institutions, are compelled to take on side jobs to supplement their meager incomes. These can range from selling goods at roadside stalls to performing music on the streets for tips. One professor, identified only as Siswanto, sells coconut drinks and second-hand clothes at a local football field. He also sings for tips, earning up to 1 million Indonesian rupiah (about $65 USD) on good days.

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I always dreamed of using my expertise in education, but now I regret choosing this job.

Siswanto, an art education lecturer at a private university since 2017, holds a master's degree from a state university. His base salary is 2.2 million Indonesian rupiah (about $140 USD) per month, less than half of the minimum wage in Bandung for 2026, which is approximately 4.6 million rupiah (about $300 USD). Without his weekend side hustles, he says he cannot survive.

Another professor, Istiqomah, expressed deep regret over her career choice. "I always dreamed of using my expertise in education, but now I regret choosing this job," she said, her eyes filled with tears. The situation underscores a critical problem within Indonesia's higher education sector, where academic qualifications do not guarantee a living wage, forcing educators into financially unstable and often demeaning supplementary work.

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If business is good, I can earn one million Indonesian rupiah (about $65 USD) a day from these side jobs.