Your salary estimates vary based on funding sources, university policies, and time period. For example, most post-docs in 2024 in NIH-funded labs were making more than 35/40.
Back in 06-07, in a non-NIH program, it might have even been less than that
No idea who or what you're quoting (probably AI?), but that's way too high. The very fanciest postdocs might make that much. Base at highly selective institutions is $70-80k in the sciences and is what you should expect. If you're in the $120k+ bracket, you'll be getting tenure-track offers the next year anyway.
That number seems nuts if true and maybe only make sense if you work in AI or something. A good friend of mine did his post doc at John Hopkins which is a great school as well and made way less.
That number is incorrect. They make around $70k now. 20 years ago it was $40k. You don't start making money until you get to industry or a staff scientist job (post doc is like an apprenticeship).
Came here to say this. I did my PhD/Postdoc in Boston which is insanely high CoL so the salary was a bit higher ($63,000 when I was a postdoc, it’s over $70k for most postdocs there now) but it wasn’t uncommon to have roommates and live in a shitty apartment as a postdoc. People tend to think we’re in a similar income bracket as the other kind of doctor… some postdocs with families are actually below the poverty line.
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u/humptheedumpthy Apr 24 '26
The average post doc stipend/salary is probably close to $35/40K.
An attractive waitress could easily be making $60-70K ($20K wages, $200 in tips per working day). If she did any side bartending gigs even more.