Faculty Salaries, Benefits, and Total Compensation (Indicator 44-2012)

Combining salary with benefits, faculty received an average total compensation package in academic year 2010–11 that was about 8 percent higher than the package they received in 1999–2000, after adjusting for inflation. In 2010–11, the average total compensation package for faculty was about $97,200, including $75,500 in salaries and $21,700 in benefits.

In academic year 2010–11, the average salary for full-time instructional faculty on 9- and 10-month contracts at postsecondary degree-granting institutions was $75,500, ranging from $56,500 for other faculty to $105,000 for professors (see table A-44-1). By control and level of institution, salaries ranged from $40,100 at private for-profit 2-year colleges to $95,000 at private nonprofit doctoral universities. Combining salary with benefits, faculty received an average total compensation package in 2010–11 that was about 8 percent higher than the package they received in 1999–2000, after adjusting for inflation. In 2010–11, the average compensation package for faculty was about $97,200, including $75,500 in salaries and $21,700 in benefits.

The average salary for all full-time instructional faculty on 9- and 10-month contracts was 8 percent higher in 2010–11 than it was in 1989–90, after adjusting for inflation (see table A-44-2). By faculty type, salary increases were 14 percent higher for professors, 11 percent higher for assistant professors, 9 percent higher for associate professors, and 7 percent higher for other faculty. Average salaries were also higher in 2010–11 than they were in 1989–90 by institutional control, with two exceptions: public master's colleges/universities (3 percent lower) and public other 4-year colleges (2 percent lower). Salary increases ranged from 4 percent higher at public 2-year colleges to 30 percent higher at private for-profit master's colleges/universities between 1989–90 and 2010–11.

Inflation-adjusted faculty salaries were 5 percent higher in 1999–2000 than in 1989–90, and faculty salaries increased by 3 percent between 1999–2000 and 2010–11. Salary increases from 1999–2000 to 2010–11 tended to occur in private institutions (with the exception of private 2-year institutions). Except for public doctoral universities, salaries for faculty in public universities/ colleges were generally lower from 1999–2000 to 2010–11 by 1 percent to 3 percent. In private institutions, except for private 2-year colleges, salaries were generally higher by 1 percent to 8 percent. Increases in salaries at private for-profit institutions varied more between 1999–2000 and 2010–11. In private for-profit private doctoral universities, salaries were lower by 37 percent, while the faculty salaries in private for-profit other 4-year colleges were higher by 39 percent. At private 2-year colleges, salaries were lower by 6 percent at nonprofit colleges but higher by 26 percent at for-profit colleges.

Fringe benefits (adjusted for inflation) for all faculty increased by a greater percentage, on average, than average faculty salaries (52 vs. 8 percent) between 1989–90 and 2010–11. As a result, fringe benefits accounted for a larger share of total faculty compensation for faculty in 2010–11 than they did in 1989–90. Fringe benefits also increased, on average, by a larger percentage than faculty salaries (26 vs. 3 percent) between 1999–2000 and 2010–11. These increases in fringe benefits were higher at public institutions than at private institutions. For example, average benefits at public master's colleges/universities were higher by 30 percent between 1999–2000 and 2010–11, compared with 16 percent at private master's colleges/universities. At private institutions, variations in fringe benefits differed between nonprofit versus for-profit institutions. For example, benefits were lower by 8 percent at nonprofit 2-year colleges between 1999–2000 and 2010–11, but were higher by 89 percent at private for-profit 2-year colleges over the same time period.

Technical Notes

Average total compensation is the sum of salary and fringe benefits (which may include benefits such as retirement plans, medical/dental plans, group life insurance, or other benefits). Faculty categories (professor, associate professor, assistant professor, and other faculty) are defined by the institution. Other faculty include faculty with no rank titles such as professor or instructor. Private institutions include private nonprofit and for-profit institutions. Institutions are classified by the number of highest degrees awarded (doctor's, master's, bachelor's, or associate's). For example, institutions that award 20 or more doctoral degrees per year are classified as doctoral universities. For more information on the classification of postsecondary institutions, see Appendix C – Commonly Used Measures. Data do not include institutions at which all faculty were part time, contributed their services, were in the military, or taught preclinical or clinical medicine. Salaries reflect an average of all faculty on 9- and 10-month contracts rather than a weighted average based on contract length, as in some other National Center for Education Statistics reports. Data exclude faculty on 11- and 12-month contracts. Data are adjusted by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to constant 2010–11 dollars. For more information on the CPI, see Appendix C – Finance. For more information on the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), see Appendix B – Guide to Sources.

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