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[niceday]

There's been some discussion of postdoc salaries (with 35-50K quoted as a range) but those seem to apply mostly to sciences. I might be looking for a postdoc to work on a project in the social sciences. We're in a high COL area. However, there seem to a lot of qualified people around who are geographically stuck but are not particularly poor, i.e. spouses making high salaries in lucrative, stable jobs in the region.

I need to offer a high enough salary so things are reasonable but can't go too high as that would mean fewer years of funding (since the grant is for a fixed amount). Any experience of salary ranges out there? Would it make a difference if I hired for multiple years? (I'm thinking of hiring for a year with the option to renew for multiple years). The position will not require teaching (although the person could teach one class in my department as an extra if they wanted the money and/or the experience) and might lead to good publications.

[monsterx]

When I was a postdoc in the USA, in a medium COL area, I had a salary of 24000.  There was enough in the grant for a  30000 salary but the administration decided that was too high for a postdoc.  That was in 2003. 

Right now I am recruiting a postdoc, and the salary range according to our collective agreement should be in the high-30s, in Euros, which would be about 50000.  But that is in Europe. 

[totoro]

My former student got a post-doc in Michigan in econ for $45,000 a year. But that's econ in a business school.

[kron3007]

Sorry if I am taking this the wrong way, but I think the real question you should be asking yourself is what is the highest wage you would be able to offer someone to come work with you, not what is the bare minimum you can get away with paying a highly qualified employee to work for you?  You make it look like you want someone who will take peanuts because they are stuck in the region and/or have a rich spouse, when you should be looking for the most qualified person for the job. 

Also, your university should have guidlines on standard salaries, ours does.     

[prof_smartypants]

I was shortlisted for a post-doc at Brown (public policy) that had a salary of $49K

[niceday]

I do want to pay a decent wage, of course. However, the amount I can allocate will be fixed -- the grant is the grant. So, if I pay more, I can hire for fewer years and then the work is less likely to be finished which is a lose-lose for everyone including the postdoc. I'm trying to get a sense of the range.

I'd ask around but there are very few postdocs of this kind in the social sciences -- we tend to have VAPs and they teach. If I do go this route, it will be a research position. It will result in solid publications (if the person does the job, of course). I'm hoping that it will end up as a career-enhancing position (as opposed to VAPs that usually end up being okay places to park oneself while trying out the market).

[laurel_knx]

A few more data points-- I applied to several social science postdocs last year that were supported by NSF training grants (or were competing with those jobs for candidates). They all offered $45-55k even though the cost of living varied widely.

[powergarden]

I have a social science background and did a post-doc in a medical school. NIH post-doc salaries start at $37,740 for a fresh grad with less than 1 year post PhD. The salaries go up into the low 50's depending on the years of post-PhD experience. NIH also does not have a cost of living adjustment so I was offered the same salary for positions in small Midwestern town, San Francisco, and NYC. 

http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-10-047.html

[archaeo42]

In my postdoc, I was offered $30K, countered with $35K and we settled on $32K.  There was wiggle room because of the fund I was getting paid from.  Most anthropology postdoc salaries I've seen have been in the $30-40K range.

[niceday]

Thanks much for the info, folks. I am not yet at the point of figuring out the range that my grant allows but this is very helpful. Whether I hire someone at the low or the high end of the numbers mentioned will determine how many years I can employ them for so I might negotiate a bit depending on the applicant pool.

Someone who could really help the project might be worth sacrificing some time for. On the other hand, a fresh graduate who needs more training and guidance to be productive might get a lower offer. In either case, I will do my best to be fair and make sure the position advances this person's career through publications (provided they do good work, of course!)

[cranefly]

Our Canadian university has a set rate of $40K for most humanities post-docs, which is in keeping with the National guidelines set by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council.

[runwithscissors]

FWIW I am a social science postdoc in a high COL area - I'm on $45,000.

[tubbs]

FWIW I am a social science postdoc in a high COL area - I'm on $45,000.

How is it possible to post a 8th Sept reply on the 5th Sept???  Are you the Timelord?

Back to the topic, FWIW, postdoc in UK receives ~GBP30k or ~GBP34k if in London, roughly $47k to $52k on today's exchange rate.

[duchess_of_malfi]

FWIW I am a social science postdoc in a high COL area - I'm on $45,000.

How is it possible to post a 8th Sept reply on the 5th Sept???  Are you the Timelord?

Yes, how??  I see how to change it in someone else's post, but how did you change it in your own post?  Are you from the future?  Do you visit us in peace and goodwill, or not?

Sorry to be off-topic.  I don't know the range.  I looked at one that would have been research-appropriate a few years ago when I applied for my current job, and it was too low to live on (</$25K, social science). 

[runwithscissors]

You should see what I can do with a sonic screwdriver.