URBANA – More than 470 employees at the University of Illinois’ campus in Urbana-Champaign earn $150,000 or more annually, according to an analysis that shows salaries are edging higher after several years of hiring freezes, furloughs, retirements and budget woes.

While 472 employees earn $150,000-plus, that number is down from 2008 when 528 employee salaries topped $150,000, according to The (Champaign) News-Gazette. The News-Gazette found that 155 employees are earning more than $200,000 this year, compared to 218 earning that much in 2008.

“Part of what you’re seeing is older faculty or more experienced faculty retiring and now you have younger faculty, assistant faculty at a lower market rate. And you might be seeing a little bit of the efforts of administrative review and consolidating as well,” said Randy Kangas, the university’s associate vice president for planning and budgeting.