March-April 2005

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The Economic Status Of The Profession, 2004–05

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The Annual Report On The Economic Status Of The Profession, 2004–05

List of Tables and Figures
Explanation of Statistical Data
Report in .pdf format

Highlights of the report:

Salary levels varied considerably between types of institutions and categories of faculty in 2004–2005. This year's annual report examines that variation and also takes a look at three special issues: trends in presidential salaries over the last three decades; the pay of contingent (non-tenure-track) faculty, and the continuing pay gap between men and women faculty. Here are some of the highlights:

  • Overall salary levels for all ranks of faculty at all types of institutions rose 2.8 per cent in 2004–2005 compared with 2003-04. That is a faster increase than was recorded in last year's report; however, it falls short of the 3.3 percent rate of inflation during the year. Thus, the overall level of faculty salaries failed to keep pace with inflation for the first time in eight years.
  • Full-time faculty who continued from the previous year at the same college or university fared better, but only slightly. Continuing faculty received an average salary increase of 4.5 percent. The real (Inflation—adjusted) increase—l .2 percent-is thus the same as last year's and the lowest rate of real increase since 1996-97.
  • This year, the AAUP survey also looks at presidential salaries. Three decades of data indicate that average presidential salaries have risen more rapidly than have faculty salaries, especially in the last ten years. Between 1993-94 and 2003-04, average presidential salaries at four-year Institutions rose more than 70 percent, while faculty salaries at those institutions rose less than 50 percent. A preliminary analysis for 2004–2005 shows that presidential salaries range from approximately 1.5 times the salary of a senior professor to more than 5 times higher.
  • Colleges and universities are employing more part- and full-time faculty off the tenure track. This year's report notes that full-time non-tenure-track faculty earn 26 percent less than comparable full-time tenure-track colleagues, and part-time faculty earn 64 percent less.
  • Equity for women faculty has long been an AAUP concern. This year's report presents four new "gender equity indices" that show that women lag behind their male counterparts in tenure status, promotion to full professor, and salary. Overall, considering all full-time faculty at all types of institutions, women earn about 80 percent of what men earn.

Unless otherwise indicated, the data in this report were provided by institutions responding to the AAUP Faculty Compensation Survey and were compiled and analyzed by the AAUP Research Office. Any questions concerning the report should be directed to the American Association of University Professors. Research Office, 1012 Fourteenth Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005-3465. (202) 737-5900. Additional copies of the report are available for purchase from the AAUP.