A decade beyond the doctorate: the influence of a US postdoctoral appointment on faculty career, productivity, and salary

Abstract

The number of postdoctoral researchers has increased dramatically in the past decade. Because of the limited number of academic staff openings and the general levels of salary, the role and value of the postdoctoral appointment are changing. Using a sample of respondents with continuous data in the 1999 through 2008 Survey of Doctoral Recipients, this study examined whether taking a postdoctoral position contributed to one’s faculty career and salary 10 years after doctorate completion. Results show that completing a postdoctoral position positively contributed to working in educational institutions and securing a tenure-track appointment. Taking one, but not two or more, postdoctoral positions increased one’s written scholarly productivity. However, the postdoctoral experience had no statistically significant impact on one’s salary a decade after degree completion. Implications are discussed for institutional and higher education policy.