University System of Maryland History of COLA & Merit Increases

FY State COLA USM Merit Total Increase Notes
2024 2.0% 2.5% 4.5% 2.0% COLA and 2.5% Merit granted on 7/1/2023
2023 3.0% + 4.5% 2.5% 10.0% 3.0% COLA and 2.5% Merit granted on 7/1/2022; 4.5% COLA granted on 11/1/2022.
2022 1.00% 2.5% 3.5% 1.0% COLA, 2.5% Merit, and $1,500 bonus delayed until January, 2022.
2021 2.0% 0% 2.0% 2% COLA increase delayed until 1/1/2021
2020 3.0% + 1.0% 0% 4.0% 3.0% COLA granted on 7-1-2019; 1.0% COLA increase delayed until 1-1-2020.
2019 2.0% + 0.5% 0% 2.5% and $500 2.0% COLA delayed until 1/1/2019; 0.5% COLA and $500 bonus delayed until 4/1/2019.
2018 0% 0% 0%
2017 0% 2.50% 2.50%
2016 0% 0% 0%
2015 2.00% 2.50% 4.50% 2% COLA increase delayed until 1/1/2015.
2014 3.00% 2.50% 5.50% 3% COLA increase delayed until 1/1/2014; 2.5% Merit increase delayed until 4/1/2014.
2013 2.00% 0% 2.00% 2% COLA increase delayed until 1/1/2013.
2012 0% 0% 0%
2011 0% 0% $750 $750 one-time COLA bonus paid on second pay period of FY 2012 to all regular status employees.
2010 0% 0% 0%
2009 2.00% 2.50% 4.50%
2008 2.00% 2.50% 4.50%
2007 $900 - $1400 2.50% variable $900 COLA bonus for employees whose annualized base salary is less than $45,000, and the lesser of a 2% increase or a $1,400 bonus for employees whose annualized base salary is $45,000 and above, with a break point of $70,000; 2.5% Merit increase on 7/1/2007
2006 1.50% 2.50% 4.00%
2005 $752 2.50% 2.50% and $752 $752 COLA flat-dollar amount added to the base salary; 2.5% Merit increase on 7/1/2005
2004 0% 0% 0%
2003 0% 0% 0%
2002 4.00% 2.50% 6.50% 4% COLA increase delayed until 1/1/2002.
2001 4.00% 2.50% 6.50% 4% COLA increase delayed until 11/15/2000.
2000 $1275 2.50% variable Flat rate COLA incremented $638 on 7/1/99 and $637 on 1/1/00; annualized $957.
1999 $1275 1.25% variable Flat rate COLA incremented $900 on 7/1/98 and $375 on 1/1/99; annualized $1,088.
1998 0% 1.25% 1.25%
1997 0% 1.25% 1.25%
1996 2.00% 1.25% 3.25% 1.25% Merit increase and class increments delayed until 11/1/1995.
1995 3.00% 1.25% 4.25% 3% COLA increase or $800 COLA bonus, whichever higher; Merit/class increments delayed 2 mos.
1994 0% 1.25% 1.25%
1993 0% 0% 0% Classified Employees did not receive step increments.
1992 0% 0% 0% Classified Employees did not receive step increments.
1991 4.00% 1.25% 5.25%
1990 4.00% 4.00% 8.00%
1989 4.00% 3.60% 7.60%
1988 2.50% 3.50% 6.00%
1987 3.50% 4.00% 7.50%
1986 4.00% 3.24% 7.24% Annual salary review effected Classified Grading for some titles.
1985 6.00% 3.26% 11.00% 5.0% but delayed for 15% of employees salary year.
1984 0% 2.65% 5.11% 5.11% Merit annualized, but implementation was delayed for half of year.
1983 9.00% 5.21% 14.21%
1982 0% 2.00% 2.00%
1981 7.00% 2.70% 9.70%
1980 6.05% 3.00% 9.05% 6% COLA increase with a minimum of $500.
1979 3.10% 3.00% 6.10% 3% COLA increase with a minimum of $300.
1978 5.50% 3.00% 8.50% 5% - 6% COLA increase with a minimum of $400.
1977 0% 0.50% 0.50%
1976 5.30% 4.00% 9.30% 3.0% - 8.78% COLA increase with a minimum of $500.
1975 7.60% 3.50% 11.10% 6.8% - 12.3% COLA increase with a minimum of $550.
1974 0% 5.00% 5.00% Merit estimated
1973 0% 4.50% 4.50% Merit estimated
1972 7.80% 6.00% 14.80% 4.5% COLA minimum; Merit estimated.
1971 5.00% 7.00% 12.00% Grades 1-7 = 6% COLA increase; Grades 8-14 = 4% COLA increase; Grades 15-19 = 3% COLA increase; Merit estimated.
1970 8.00% 6.00% 14.00% Grades 1-7 = 9% COLA increase; Grades 8-14 = 7% COLA increase; Grades 15-19 = 5% COLA increase
1969 0% 6.00% 6.00%
1968 12.00% 5.00% 17.00%
1967 0% 0% 0%