Salaries at PSU

At Portland State University (PSU), located in Portland, Oregon, salary expectations for faculty and staff are determined by several factors, including role, academic rank, years of experience, and field of expertise. Salaries often vary significantly between departments, with STEM and business-related fields typically commanding higher compensation due to market demand. Additionally, administrative roles may have different pay structures compared to academic positions. While PSU operates as a public institution and is subject to Oregon's transparency laws, detailed salary bands for specific roles are not always publicly disclosed in a comprehensive, centralized format. However, some data may be accessible through public records or state salary databases upon request.

• Assistant Professor: Typical salary range is $60,000–$75,000 USD per year, depending on the department and prior experience. Entry-level roles may start lower, with potential increases based on research output and teaching evaluations.
• Associate Professor: Average salary range is $75,000–$90,000 USD annually. Mid-career faculty often see incremental raises tied to tenure and publication records.
• Full Professor: Salaries typically range from $90,000–$120,000 USD per year. Seniority, leadership roles, and external research funding can push compensation higher.
• Department Chair: Compensation often falls between $100,000–$130,000 USD annually, reflecting additional administrative responsibilities alongside teaching or research duties.
• Administrative Staff (e.g., Program Coordinator): Salaries generally range from $45,000–$65,000 USD per year, varying based on experience and scope of responsibilities.

Salaries at Portland State University are generally competitive within the context of public universities in the Pacific Northwest, though they may lag behind private institutions or those in higher-cost regions. As a public university, PSU benchmarks its compensation against state guidelines and union agreements, particularly for faculty and staff under collective bargaining. Salary progression often depends on tenure, performance reviews, and budget availability, with periodic adjustments to account for cost-of-living increases. While exact figures for every role are not always publicly available, PSU's commitment to transparency as a public entity allows for some insight into compensation through state-level resources.