Compensation
Effective December 13, 2016, all individuals with the title of postdoctoral scholar or fellow at Northwestern University must be paid a minimum salary of $47,476. These titles include:
- Postdoctoral Scholar
- NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow (See FY19 NRSA Postdoctoral Stipend levels).
- Postdoctoral Fellow-Department of Education
- Postdoctoral Fellow-Direct Fellowship
- WCAS Teaching and Research Postdoctoral Fellows
Starting March 1, 2024, the minimum salary for new or reappointed postdoctoral scholars at Northwestern will rise to the minimum postdoctoral salary of $56,484 set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Any postdoc with a start date or reappointment date after this new policy goes into effect must be appointed at the NIH minimum salary in effect at that time. Learn more about the pay update here.
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellows are not subject to the minimum salary requirements. Postdoctoral appointments supported by sponsored awards with a salary level above the Northwestern minimum should abide by the policies, requirements, and compensation levels outlined by the sponsored funding organization.
Questions regarding University compensation requirements should be directed to the Office of Human Resources.