Postdoc Data

Did you know what the recommended postdoctoral starting salaries are in New York City and how these align with the NIH recommendations, estimate of pedestrians and public housing eligibility in NYC.

FIGURE 1. (A) Salary recommendations at seven research intensive institutions for pre- (blue) and postdoctoral (red) trainees in New York City (items 1-7, References). The current National Research Service Award (NRSA) minimum annual stipend for first year postdoctoral trainees is $39,264 while for graduate students it is $22,032 (item 8, References). NRSA stipend levels are used as a benchmark by many institutes across the United States to set compensation levels for graduate students and postdoctoral trainees. NRSA postdoctoral trainee stipends are significantly higher (1.78 fold greater) than the stipend levels for graduate students in order to reflect the difference in years of experience, training, and earned degrees (M.D. or Ph.D.) that postdoctoral trainees have achieved. At the seven New York City research institutions the average pre-doctoral salary is adjusted to meet cost of living expenses in New York City ($33,500). However, postdoctoral salaries generally meet the recommended NIH minimum. Thus, the postdoctoral salary is only marginally larger (1.17fold greater) than that of a graduate student. (B) Data from a recent poll amongst New York City pedestrians (Reference) indicate that they estimate that postdoctoral researchers in New York City receive a starting salary of ~ $60,000 (red column). This is significantly higher than the actual postdoc starting salary. Interestingly, if postdoctoral salaries were adjusted to this level ($60,000) the NRSA recommended, relative salary difference between pre- and postdoctoral trainees would have been re-established (1.79 greater).

Note: Pre- and postdoctoral researchers in NYC are eligible to apply for NYC public housing (orange column, Reference) if their research activities provide the only income for their family.