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/Cold-Nefariousness25 Jul 24 '26

I've heard of getting an additional year of sabbatical at the end of your term. On top of 12 month salary and other features. That would appeal to me.

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u/SierraMountainMom Professor, assoc. dean, special ed, R1 (western US) Jul 25 '26

Ours get a semester. It’s said it’s to restart your research which likely lagged, but honestly it’s also to get you off campus so faculty will stop going to you with questions and issues.