Salaries at City University of New York

Salary expectations at the City University of New York (CUNY), a prominent public university system in New York City, are determined by a variety of factors including role, academic rank, years of experience, and specific field of expertise. Salaries for faculty and staff are often aligned with collective bargaining agreements negotiated by unions such as the Professional Staff Congress (PSC-CUNY), which represents many employees. While CUNY does provide some transparency through public salary data for certain positions due to its status as a public institution, detailed salary bands for every role are not always published on official university platforms. Instead, ranges can often be inferred from state employee databases or union contracts.

• Assistant Professor: Typical salary range is $60,000–$80,000 USD annually, depending on discipline and campus. Entry-level roles may start lower, with increases based on tenure track progression.
• Associate Professor: Average salary range is $80,000–$100,000 USD per year. Seniority and research output often influence placement within this band.
• Full Professor: Salaries typically range from $100,000–$130,000 USD annually, with potential for higher earnings based on distinguished status or additional administrative duties.
• Administrative Staff (e.g., Academic Advisor): Ranges from $45,000–$70,000 USD per year, often tied to experience and specific job responsibilities.
• Department Chair: Salaries can range between $110,000–$150,000 USD, often including stipends for leadership roles alongside base faculty pay.

Salaries at CUNY are generally competitive within the public higher education sector, particularly when compared to other state university systems, though they may lag behind private institutions in the region. As a public entity, compensation is often benchmarked against state guidelines, with periodic adjustments based on union negotiations. Career progression can lead to significant salary increases, especially for faculty achieving tenure or moving into administrative roles. However, budget constraints typical of public institutions may impact the frequency of raises or availability of bonuses, making external research grants or additional appointments critical for income growth in certain fields.