Benefits at the University of Michigan
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to support your health and well-being, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Generous time off
- A retirement plan where the faculty or staff member contributes 5%. After one year of service, U-M provides a 10% match that is immediately vested.
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for health-care and dependent-care expenses
Eligibility for benefits is based on your job group, your appointment percentage and the length of your appointment. Learn more about employee benefits and eligibility.
Time Away from Work
Generous, paid time off for vacation, holidays and sick time, as well as paid maternity and parental leave. The amount of time you accrue is based on your position, length of service, and where you work.
University-observed holidays include:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day After Thanksgiving
- Christmas Day
- Floating Holiday*
Most areas offer the flexibility to substitute holidays when needed or when the nature of your job requires work on a designated holiday.
Learn more about paid time away from work, including information about Season Days for campus faculty and staff, substituting holidays, and information about PTO for Michigan Medicine employees.
*The floating holiday was added in 2025. It is a single day that must be used within the 12-month calendar year to celebrate a day of personal significance. Most areas offer the flexibility to substitute holidays when needed or when the nature of your job requires work on a designated holiday.
Retirement Plan
Under the Basic Retirement Plan, participants contribute 5% of eligible compensation. The university matching contribution begins after a 12-month waiting period has been completed. Once eligible, the university contributes 10% of eligible compensation, which is immediately vested, with the option to save more through a 403(b) Supplemental Retirement Account (SRA) and a 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan. SRA and 457(b) contributions can be made on a pre-tax or Roth. You can choose to invest with TIAA or Fidelity Investments, or both.
Health Insurance
As an eligible employee, you have access to health insurance and prescription drug coverage beginning on your first day of employment. The university regularly reviews all plans to ensure quality and value.
The University of Michigan offers a choice among several plans and plan types, including comprehensive major medical, HMO, consumer-driven and preferred provider organization (PPO). Coverage also is available for dependents who meet age and other guidelines.
You also can pair eligible U-M health plans with pre-tax health-care Flexible Spending Accounts and, depending on the plan you choose, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Prescription Drug Plan
All eligible participants in university health plans are automatically enrolled in the U-M Prescription Drug Plan, which covers most prescription drugs. The plan offers a nationwide network of retail pharmacies, as well as a convenient mail-order service.
Dental Plan
The University of Michigan Dental Plan is administered through Delta Dental of Michigan. The plan offers a choice of three coverage levels.
Vision Plan
U-M offers a Vision Plan to eligible faculty and staff through Davis Vision by MetLife, a preferred provider organization (PPO). As a plan participant, you receive one eye examination and one pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses every year.
University-subsidized Backup Care
The University of Michigan partners with Bright Horizons® to provide up to 15 days per calendar year of low-cost backup care across the U.S. This also includes membership access to Sittercity fee-for-service resources from Sittercity to help you take care of those who matter most while you fulfill your commitments to U-M.
Workplace Health and Well-being
U-M is a workplace where healthy living is encouraged and supported. MHealthy, the university's health and well-being program, helps U-M faculty and staff be at their best—physically, mentally and emotionally.
Learn more about MHealthy and our commitment to a community of health.
For More Information
Learn more about our generous and competitive benefits package.