Salaries at Mines

At the Colorado School of Mines, located in Golden, Colorado, salary expectations for faculty and staff are typically determined by factors such as role, academic rank, years of experience, and field of expertise. Salaries often vary significantly between disciplines, with engineering and applied sciences—core areas of focus for the university—potentially commanding higher compensation due to market demand. While the university does not widely publish transparent salary bands for all positions, some data may be accessible through public records as it is a state-funded institution. Employees are generally compensated based on benchmarks set by comparable public universities in the region, with adjustments for cost of living and institutional budget constraints.

• Assistant Professor: Typical salary range is approximately $80,000–$100,000 USD per year, depending on the department and research focus. Entry-level roles may start lower but often include opportunities for research grants.
• Associate Professor: Average salary range is around $100,000–$130,000 USD annually. Mid-career faculty may see increases based on tenure status and publication record.
• Full Professor: Salaries typically range from $130,000–$180,000 USD per year, with senior faculty often earning more due to leadership roles or external funding.
• Department Chair: Compensation generally falls between $150,000–$200,000 USD annually, reflecting administrative responsibilities alongside academic duties.
• Administrative Staff (e.g., Program Coordinator): Salaries range from $50,000–$70,000 USD per year, varying by experience and scope of responsibilities.

Salaries at the Colorado School of Mines are generally competitive within the public university sector, particularly for STEM-focused roles, aligning with regional and national benchmarks for similar institutions. Progression often depends on performance evaluations, tenure achievement, and securing external research funding, which can supplement base pay. As a public institution, salary data for some positions may be subject to disclosure under state transparency laws, though comprehensive and up-to-date figures for all roles are not always publicly available. Overall, the university strives to balance competitive compensation with fiscal responsibility, reflecting its status as a leading engineering and applied sciences school in the United States.