Explore Exciting New Career Opportunities at Penn State Health
Penn State Health Employer Profile
AcademicJobs.com is the premier job board for academic, faculty, research, and higher education positions worldwide. This dedicated profile showcases Penn State Health as a leading employer on our platform, highlighting its commitment to excellence in teaching, innovation, and scholarly achievement. Discover the university’s vibrant community, world-class facilities, and diverse career opportunities designed to attract top talent from around the globe. Whether you are an aspiring academic or an experienced professional, explore what makes Penn State Health an exceptional place to advance your career.
Penn State Health Jobs in Hershey, Pennsylvania connect academic professionals with roles across clinical medicine, biomedical research, public health, and health professions education. This guide covers faculty job opportunities, professor ratings, salary benchmarks, and career progression at Penn State Health and its academic partner, Penn State College of Medicine. Academics considering assistant professor positions, postdoctoral research, clinical faculty roles, or lecturer appointments at Penn State Health can use AcademicJobs.com tools to compare salaries, find open roles, and evaluate teaching quality. Browse current listings at Higher Ed Jobs, or visit Rate My Professor to see how students evaluate Penn State Health faculty. The AcademicJobs.com platform also offers career resources such as a Free Resume Template and Free Cover Letter Template to help you prepare applications for Penn State Health academic positions.
About Penn State Health
Penn State Health is an integrated academic health system headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with a mission to improve health through patient care, research, education, and community outreach. Its academic core includes Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, a tertiary and quaternary care hospital, and Penn State Health Children's Hospital. The system also operates Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center, Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center, and Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center. Academic appointments are made through Penn State College of Medicine, which has been closely tied to the Hershey campus since the medical center opened in 1970.
The College of Medicine offers MD, physician assistant, graduate biomedical sciences, public health, and other health professions programs. This structure means that Penn State Health Jobs often carry a dual academic and clinical mission. Faculty may teach medical students, supervise residents and fellows, conduct NIH-supported research, and deliver specialty care. The Hershey campus provides a distinctive environment for collaboration across basic science departments such as biochemistry and molecular biology, cellular and molecular physiology, pharmacology, and public health sciences. Penn State Health has expanded clinical sites across central Pennsylvania, increasing opportunities for community-engaged research and rural health scholarship. Learn more at Penn State Health Website and Penn State College of Medicine. Explore related academic job markets in Academic Jobs in United States, Academic Jobs in Pennsylvania, and Academic Jobs in Hershey. Prospective faculty and students can also consult professor ratings through Rate My Professor to identify educators with strong teaching evaluations.
Faculty Job Opportunities at Penn State Health
Faculty job opportunities at Penn State Health span academic medicine, biomedical research, public health sciences, and health professions education. High-demand roles for 2025 include Assistant Professor positions in internal medicine, family and community medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, neurology, surgery, and anesthesiology. Basic science departments such as pharmacology, biochemistry and molecular biology, cellular and molecular physiology, and public health sciences also recruit research-intensive faculty. Many Penn State Health faculty hold joint appointments at Penn State College of Medicine, combining teaching with clinical or laboratory work. Research fellows and postdoctoral scholars play central roles in NIH-funded labs. The salary for an assistant professor at Penn State Health typically ranges from $90,000 to $130,000 in basic sciences, while clinical assistant professors in high-demand specialties may earn between $180,000 and $260,000 depending on clinical productivity and board certification. Associate professor salaries often range from $120,000 to $180,000 in research tracks and from $220,000 to $320,000 in clinical tracks. Full professors can earn $160,000 to $250,000 in basic science departments and $300,000 to $500,000 or more in clinical specialties. Explore open positions at Higher Ed Jobs or Professor Jobs.
Assistant Professor
Faculty positions in medicine, public health, and biomedical sciences. Salary ranges from about $90,000 to $130,000 in basic science and $180,000 to $260,000 in clinical tracks.
View Faculty JobsAssociate Professor
Mid-career academic roles with teaching, research, and clinical leadership expectations. Research-track salaries often range from $120,000 to $180,000; clinical tracks from $220,000 to $320,000.
View Faculty RolesClinical Faculty
Physician educators and clinical researchers in high-demand specialties such as internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry, and pediatrics. Compensation reflects specialty demand and productivity.
Explore Clinical Professor JobsResearch Scientist
Non-tenure-track research positions supporting NIH-funded projects in cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular disease, and population health. Salaries generally range from $70,000 to $105,000.
Browse Research JobsPostdoctoral Scholar
Early-career research training roles across biomedical and public health sciences. Stipends typically follow NIH scales, ranging from about $56,484 to $70,000 based on experience.
Find Postdoc JobsLecturer / Instructor
Teaching-focused appointments in health professions education, biomedical sciences, and public health. Salaries often range from $60,000 to $85,000 depending on qualifications.
View Lecturer JobsWhy Work at Penn State Health
Academic careers at Penn State Health attract professionals who want to combine patient care, teaching, and research in a collaborative health system. Faculty benefit from access to Penn State College of Medicine resources including the Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute, core research facilities, biostatistics support, and grant development services. Penn State Health has expanded clinical sites across central Pennsylvania, increasing opportunities for community-engaged research and rural health scholarship. The Hershey area offers a reasonable cost of living compared with larger East Coast academic hubs, and many faculty cite the balance between high-impact work and quality of life. The health system emphasizes interdisciplinary teams, with collaboration across medicine, nursing, engineering, data science, and public health. Faculty also have access to leadership development, mentoring programs, and continuing education support. For academics who value both research productivity and clinical impact, Penn State Health offers a distinctive environment. Explore Higher Ed Career Advice or Remote Higher Ed Jobs to learn more about academic career planning.
Salary Guide for Faculty at Penn State Health
📊 Faculty salaries at Penn State Health vary significantly by academic rank, track, clinical specialty, and funding source. Basic science faculty salaries are typically supported by university funds and extramural grants, while clinical faculty compensation reflects billing productivity, specialty demand, and call coverage. 📍 In Hershey, Pennsylvania, the cost of living is lower than in many major academic markets, which can make moderate six-figure salaries go further. The table below presents indicative 2025 ranges for common academic roles at Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine. Actual offers may differ based on experience, credentials, and negotiation. Visit Professor Salaries or University Salaries for broader comparisons.
| Role | Typical Range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Professor, Basic Science | $90,000 - $130,000 | NIH and university funded; start-up packages vary |
| Assistant Professor, Clinical | $180,000 - $260,000 | Higher in surgery, anesthesiology, and radiology |
| Associate Professor, Research | $120,000 - $180,000 | Grant funded; promotion from assistant rank |
| Associate Professor, Clinical | $220,000 - $320,000 | Productivity incentives may increase total pay |
| Professor, Basic Science | $160,000 - $250,000 | Leadership supplements possible |
| Professor, Clinical | $300,000 - $500,000+ | Specialty dependent; high-demand fields may exceed |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $56,484 - $70,000 | NIH scale; adjusted by experience and funding |
| Lecturer / Instructor | $60,000 - $85,000 | Teaching-focused appointments |
| Research Scientist | $70,000 - $105,000 | Project-dependent; often grant-supported |
Salary progression at Penn State Health depends on academic promotions, clinical productivity, external grant support, and administrative leadership. Negotiation for clinical roles often includes base salary, incentive bonuses, moving expenses, and research support. Basic science offers may include protected time for grant writing and laboratory setup. Faculty considering Penn State Health should compare total compensation, not just base salary, and account for Hershey's lower cost of living relative to Boston, New York, or Philadelphia.
Rate My Professor: Top Educators at Penn State Health
Choosing the right courses, mentors, and research supervisors can shape a career. AcademicJobs.com's Rate My Professor platform gives Penn State Health students and trainees a way to share honest feedback about teaching quality, clarity, accessibility, and mentorship. The profiles below are representative examples reflecting the type of professor ratings available on the platform. Ratings are based on student-reported data and illustrate how peer reviews can guide course selection and mentor identification.
Dr. Sarah Mitchell
Associate Professor, Public Health Sciences
⭐ 4.8
Recognized for clear lectures and constructive feedback on research methods.
Dr. James Okafor
Assistant Professor, Neuroscience
⭐ 4.9
Students praise approachable office hours and strong research mentorship.
Dr. Elena Rodriguez
Professor, Internal Medicine
⭐ 4.7
Strong clinical teaching and case-based learning for medical students.
Dr. Mark Lindqvist
Associate Professor, Pediatrics
⭐ 4.8
Excellent bedside teaching and supportive mentoring for residents and fellows.
Dr. Anita Deshpande
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
⭐ 4.9
Makes complex material accessible and designs fair, concept-focused exams.
Dr. Thomas Weller
Professor, Surgery
⭐ 4.6
Intensive but highly effective surgical instruction with detailed feedback.
Career Progression at Penn State Health
Career progression at Penn State Health typically follows academic ranks from Instructor or Assistant Professor to Associate Professor and full Professor. In clinical departments, early-career faculty often spend several years building clinical practice, teaching portfolios, and research collaborations. Promotion criteria generally include teaching effectiveness, scholarship, and service. Research-focused faculty are expected to secure extramural funding and publish in peer-reviewed journals. Penn State College of Medicine supports faculty through mentoring programs, faculty development workshops, and annual reviews. Retention and promotion are strengthened by internal leadership opportunities, including division chief, program director, and research center leadership roles. New PhDs and physician-scientists may enter as postdoctoral scholars or research associates before transitioning to assistant professor positions. Explore pathways at Higher Ed Career Advice or Faculty Jobs. Academic job seekers at Penn State Health can also access professional development tools on AcademicJobs.com, including Free Resume Template and Free Cover Letter Template to strengthen applications.
Research and Innovation at Penn State Health
Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine maintain a substantial research portfolio focused on cancer, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience, infectious disease, population health, and health equity. The Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute supports investigator-initiated studies, pilot grants, and community engagement. The Penn State Cancer Institute advances basic, translational, and clinical oncology research, while the Penn State Neuroscience Institute coordinates cross-college collaboration in brain health and neural engineering. Additional strengths include rural health disparities, addiction science, child health, and implementation science. Penn State Health researchers collaborate with Penn State University divisions in engineering, data science, and nutrition. Grant funding comes from the National Institutes of Health, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, foundations, and industry partners. For academics seeking research positions, current openings may include research scientist, clinical research coordinator, and postdoctoral scholar roles. Explore Research Jobs, Clinical Research Jobs, and Postdoc Jobs.
Resources for Penn State Health Academics
- Office of Faculty Affairs: appointment, promotion, and tenure guidance at Penn State College of Medicine.
- Office of Faculty and Professional Development: mentoring, leadership workshops, and teaching development programs.
- Employee benefits: health insurance, retirement plans, tuition assistance, and wellness resources for eligible faculty and staff.
- Office for Research Affairs: grant development, compliance support, and core facility access for investigators.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion offices: support for recruitment, retention, and belonging across academic and clinical units.
- Career tools from AcademicJobs.com: use the Free Resume Template and Free Cover Letter Template to prepare competitive applications.
Student Life and Perspectives at Penn State Health
Students at Penn State College of Medicine and health professions programs benefit from a close-knit campus environment in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The small-town setting encourages mentoring relationships, collaborative learning, and access to clinical experiences at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Students can consult Rate My Professor to identify professors with strong teaching evaluations before selecting electives and research mentors. Rate My Professor helps students choose courses, find supportive advisors, and recognize teaching excellence across Penn State Health academic programs. For broader academic career resources, students can visit Higher Ed Jobs and University Jobs.