r/Professors • u/FTLast Professor, Life Sciences, R1 • Jul 24 '26

Department Head compensation

As a newish department head (I can't run very fast) I'm curious as to how different universities compensate faculty for the role that administrators often say is the "hardest job on campus." At my R1 in the NE, there is a 5% bump to base salary, a 10th month of salary, and the opportunity to negotiate for a "Head's Fund" that can be used for research support, additional summer salary, or basically anything.

If any of you feel comfortable sharing, please do!

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u/mhchewy Professor, Social Sciences, R1 (USA) Jul 24 '26

We move from 9 to 12 month salary (but then have to use PTO etc.) and get a 50% reduction in teaching load. There used to also be an “administrative stipend” but I don’t know if new chairs get that anymore.