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[fraggles]

Does this normally happen? Should I have brought it up? I asked about research funds and tenure requirements, but I didn't ask about the salary.

[systeme_d_]

I've been on many SCs, and I've visited several campuses as an applicant, and never was salary mentioned.  In my experience, the topic of salary is broached by the SC Chair when making an offer.  And then the negotiations begin.

[not_a_gradstudent1]

In my experience, it's brought up about half the time, usually by whoever is authorized to make the offer at that particular institution (e.g. a dean or the department chair) but sometimes by the SC chair. It's usually a ballpark rather than an exact figure at that point. 

[nocalprof]

I've chaired 3 searches, and to my surprise nobody's ever asked me.  One candidate once asked the department chair - other than that it seems to wait until an offer is made.  I asked on my interview, and my offer was exactly in the middle of the ball-park range given by the department chair. 

I don't think it matters a whole lot in terms of selecting a candidate.

[systeme_d_]

I've been on many SCs, and I've visited several campuses as an applicant, and never was salary mentioned.  In my experience, the topic of salary is broached by the SC Chair when making an offer.  And then the negotiations begin.

It just occurred to me to clarify that in my experience, this only applies to TT positions.

In VAP and lecturer searches, the salary was mentioned by the SC Chair right up front.

[msparticularity]

On my last job search (four years ago), the salary range was mentioned ahead of time in either the job listing or during the interview process for most of the positions. The actual salary they proposed to offer me was mentioned only at the time of offer, for both offers I received. This time around, the Dean brought up the listed salary amount during my interview with him, and I told him quite frankly what I would need to make a move possible for me. When he called to offer me the position, he made the actual offer (which combined a variety of things to get to what I needed).

[litdawg]

This has only been mentioned once out of seven campus visits I've had over the past seven years. It's not really information I need until an offer is on the table.

[biop_grad]

Having been at six campus interviews over the past three years, the only time that salary range came up at that stage was that there was one university where they mentioned this up front before scheduling phone interviews.  That said, I never asked; it seemed to be fairly standard.  At least in my field, the offers I've received are in line with regional/national norms for the position and are fairly standard.

[fraggles]

Thanks all. I just wanted to make sure that my failing to bring it up wouldn't be interpreted as lack of interest in the position.

[msparticularity]

Thanks all. I just wanted to make sure that my failing to bring it up wouldn't be interpreted as lack of interest in the position.

No--not at all, and I would never suggest that a candidate raise the issue, either. The only reason I ever discussed it was because it was brought up by the person interviewing me.

[dr_prephd]

I've been on a handful of campus interviews. In my experience, salary is usually either stated up front in the ad as a broad range, or discussed later in meetings with the dean or other admin. Sometimes, if it's not stated up front, you can dig around a bit and see if the salary info. is public.

It's not really information I need until an offer is on the table.

I've changed my tune on this after being burnt. I think ranges should be stated up front, always.

When working full-time, I took three days off to go to a campus interview interview at a middle-of-nowhere regional state u., where I found out toward the end of the three days that the offer on the table was less than a living wage.

Had that been stated up front, I could have saved us all a lot of time and money, and perhaps they would have chosen another candidate to visit campus (one who would work for the paltry sum offered). I really hate wasting my time, and wish salary discussions would happen up front more often. 

[offthemarket]

I have only asked once, indirectly, because it was really called for in the interview.  The job was in a location where it was *incredibly* expensive to live, and anywhere within an hour commute would be almost as expensive. Well beyond faculty salary expensive.  So I asked faculty members where they live, which, to them, was asking about salary.

I found out that everyone there either commuted for two hours each way, or had a spouse who earned the real money.

[helpful]

On all searches we schedule a meeting between the candidate and the Dean. It is at that meeting that the Dean talks to the candidate about the salary range if they were hired. This is a courtesy done for all candidates so they know what the ballpark figure would be if they were offered the job. (The range is based on what kind of teaching experience the candidate has). 

I underline that it is the Dean that leads this discussion, not the department head, nor the candidate. It is one of the agenda items for the meeting with the Dean.