FY27 Salary Update (Postdocs/Research Associates)

Dear postdoctoral scholars and research associates,

Effective Sept. 1, the University will set the minimum salary for postdoctoral scholars upon hire to match the minimum postdoctoral salary set by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that effective Sept. 1, 2026, newly hired postdoctoral scholars must receive a minimum annual salary of $63,480. For postdoctoral scholars who are paid below the minimum level as of Sept. 1, 2026, their salaries will be adjusted to meet the new minimum level of $63,480 upon a position reappointment. These same salary requirements will also apply to newly hired or reappointed research associates on or after Sept. 1, 2026.

Negotiations between the University and the Northwestern University Postdoctoral Union over the terms of the parties’ initial collective bargaining agreement are ongoing and will include further discussions over wages and other terms and conditions of employment for those postdoctoral scholars and research associates who are in the bargaining unit.

We have shared this information with faculty in a separate email that is published on the Postdoctoral Unionization website. If you have questions, we encourage you to contact your Union representative.

 
Kathleen Hagerty
Provost
First Chicago Professor of Finance

Sumit Dhar
Interim Vice President for Research
Associate Provost for Faculty
Hugh Knowles Professor in Hearing Sciences