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[Alan]

Hi--

I recently was informed that I am a finalist for a position at a school in one of the most expensive places to live in the U.S.  I don't have any info. about salary (the original job posting said "salary commensurate with experience").  I know you're not supposed to ask about salary right off the bat, but before I can even consider living in that area of the country, I need to know how much I'd be making.  The interview isn't until late Jan/early Feb.   Advice?  Thanks.

[Sally]

Others will tell you differently, but I have learned the hard way.  Call the school's human-resources office (anonymously) and ask if they will tell you what the salary range is. Don't worry about "bothering" them with something like this -- that is what they are there for.  I have been on too many interviews without knowing what the salary is in advance only to be stunned, shocked and appalled at how low the unadvertised salary is.  I actually had a school in Oklahoma offer me an 11-month contract for a whopping $22,000 per year -- and that was within the last eight months.  A total waste of everyone's time.  If it is a public, state-supported institution, they are required to reveal the salary range by law.  If it's a private institution and they won't give a salary range, I wouldn't go.

[B.F.]

I suggest that you read previous threads on this issue: : "How to Ask About Salary?", 09-15-04 and "re: finding salary info", 07-16-04.

[helpful]

Is there a faculty association or union at the institution? If there is, go to their web site and read the contract!

Do you know anyone who works there? Contact them and ask!

Is it a public university? Usually, those salaries are also publicly available.

I do advise you not to ask the hiring ctee or hiring chair what the salary is!
Good luck.

[NorthwardBound]

Another thing to find out beforehand is benefits/health insurance.  I was offered a job at a small private institution and while the salary was acceptable (barely) -- when I found out that putting my spouse on the health insurance would be $450 a month -- all of a sudden that barely acceptable salary became totally unacceptable.  I found out about the high health insurance at my campus interview- it was not posted anywhere online.  I think Sally's advice is good: If they don't have the info online, make an anonymous call to human resources.

[helpful]

Don't forget, if you do call HR about salary, at some institutions salary will depend on your full-time teaching experience (some places give you one step up for every year of teaching experience) and also dependent on the faculty. For example, in the tech book computer science profs got a bump up at some universities to compete with the high-tech sector, and business faculties still do give bumps up.

[Jim]

Look in the Chronicle under "Facts and Figures" and locate the school's salary structure by rank. If not there, look at schools for the area and compare. Of course, in this situation you play both ends toward the middle and see what happens. You have nothing to lose and gain invaluable experience. Calm down and enjoy.