Here is some data on faculty salaries for the 2009-10 academic year from a major public research university with a reputable and PGR-ranked philosophy department and PhD program. The data was published by a news magazine, but I've anonymized the data here, since the point isn't to make this even more public than it already is, but to illustrate--for the benefit of current faculty, graduate students, and students thinking about careers in philosophy--what kinds of salaries might be in their future.
The information is organized as follows: Rank, approximate age of faculty member, when hired, and salary. The salary is for the academic year; in some cases, there may be additional summer salary, though in most cases there isn't. In order to make it harder to identify the department, I have not listed everyone, but this list is representative.
1. Professor, 50s, hired since 2000, salary: $194,800.
2. Professor, 60s, hired since 2000, salary: $157,300.
3. Associate Professor, 40s, hired since 2000, salary: $122,500.
4. Endowed Professorship, over 70, hired in 1960s, salary: $98,500.
5. Endowed Professorship, 60s, hired in 1970s, salary: $97,900.
6. Professor, 50s, hired since 2000, salary: $94,651.
7. Professor, 50s, hired in 1980s, salary: $93,200.
8. Professor, over 70, hired in 1970s, salary: $92,700.
9. Professor, 50s, hired in in 1980s, salary: $91,500.
10. Professor, 50s, hired in 1980s, salary: $90,200.
11. Professor, 50s, hired in 1980s, salary: $89,500.
12. Professor, 50s, hired in 1990s, salary: $88,500.
13. Professor, 50s, hired in 1990s, salary: $88,402.
14. Professor, 50s, hired in 1980s, salary: $86,600.
15. Professor, over 70, hired in 1960s, salary: $85,100.
16. Assistant Professor, 30s, hired since 2000, salary: $75,000
18. Assistant Professor, 30s, hired since 2000, salary: $74,000
19. Associate Professor, 40s, hired in 1990s, salary: $72,100
20. Associate Professor, 40s, hired in 1990s, salary: $72,100
21. Assistant Professor, 30s, hired since 2000, salary: $65,435
A couple of patterns here are typical and worth noting. First, there is enormous salary compression, with relatively new faculty often making as much or more than tenured and more senior faculty. The market pressure makes itself felt most keenly at the entry-level. Seniority counts for relatively little in explaining salary differentials over time, but continued market power does: those who periodically get outside offers have the highest salaries, period. This is true at private as well as public universities which, alas, is why faculty sometimes shop for offers they have no real intention of accepting.
UPDATE: I should note that the Depratment is in an above-average but not very high cost-of-living part of the country.
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