As reported in the Academe (March/April, 1995), the 1994-95 faculty salaries in most of the institutions in the Oregon State System of Higher Education are considerably below the national average for comparable institutions. In our universities, the average for professors is $8,780 to $14,480 below the average for comparable institutions; at the associate level, it is $3,340 to $6,140 below; and at the assistant level, it is $2,670 to $5,270 below. Similarly, at both WOSC and SOSC, at each rank the average salary is thousands of dollars below the appropriate national average.
Moreover, faculty salaries tend to be below the average of somewhat comparable private colleges and universities in Oregon. For example, the average salaries of professors at Reed and Lewis and Clark are higher than those found in any OSSHE institution. Although the total compensation is a little better, it remains below that of comparable institutions. However, when total compensation is adjusted by removing six percent of salary, our rankings on total compensation are even lower than our salary rankings.
The figures present the relative rankings of our public universities within doctoral level institutions nationally. For some ranks and at some institutions, faculty salaries are in the bottom ten percent. At the professor level, across Oregon's public universities, the percentile ranks of salaries range from 7-20; at the associate level, the range is 10-27; and, at the assistant level, the range is 11-28. Without factoring in the impact of Measure 8, in terms of total compensation, the rankings are slightly better: professor, 6-25; associate, 6-39; and assistant, 5-39.
However, Measure 8 did pass, albeit by a very small margin. It will have a major impact on total compensation. Adjusting the 1994-95 compensation figures for this loss, Oregon's relative position slips to 4-19 for professors, 5-28 for associates, and 1-5 for assistants. Providing that the relative position of faculty salaries is maintained, this provides a good indicator of total compensation -- near the bottom nationally. The first two figures clearly illustrate the current financial status of faculty. Assuming that salaries retain their relative position, the third figure suggests the total compensation situation for next year. The budget proposal of Governor Kitzhaber will dramatically accelerate this downward spiral. Using the most optimistic figures available, a decline in relative standing is still expected.
Comparison of Oregon's Faculty Salaries and Compensation with National Averages
Institution Salary Total Compensation
Prof. Assoc. Asst. Prof. Assoc. Asst.
National: Doctoral 68680 49840 42570 84700 63720 53500
Level Institutions
O S U 59900 46500 39900 76300 60600 52000
P S U 54200 43700 37300 65700 52600 44300
U of O 59400 44400 37900 75800 57800 49600
National: Compre- 53970 44270 37120 67870 55900 47250
hensive Institutions
S O S C 46000 36300 31200 55900 43900 36700
W O S C 43500 35100 31500 57200 47000 41500
Lewis & Clark 63300 45000 37600 80000 57800 46900
U. of Portland 58600 45200 39100 70600 55500 48100
Pacific U. 48400 40300 35100 57500 47800 42000
National: General 45860 38530 33010 56720 48200 41130
Baccalaureate
E O S C 46700 35600 29200 61100 47500 38600
O I T 49700 43300 38300 64400 56900 50500
Reed College 60400 46200 39100 74000 59600 47700
Willamette U. 59700 44100 34700 74000 55200 42500
Linfield College 48700 38300 32400 67600 54300 45300
Source: Academe, March/April, 1995.
National averages are category medians.