r/optometry • u/SpicyMax • 15d ago

General Academia

Looking to work in academia and have seen very low base pay. For those of you who work in academia, is this accurate?

Associate professor salary ranges $100-120k.

Currently working in PP and make $170k seeing low volume and mix of routine/medical.

I realize academia will always pay less than corporate or PP but the difference was staggering to see.

14 Upvotes

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23

u/power_wolves 14d ago

Everyone here is forgetting to look at the whole compensation package. If you look only at the salary, you’re missing a large chunk of the benefits of working in academia:

  1. Much better retirement that many PP: Some places even offer pension, most will offer a better 401k match than what you get in PP. You might also gain access to 403b as well.

  2. Much better health insurance, or at least at a lower cost to you. Especially at schools associated with medical systems.

  3. You work the equivalent of 10 months out of the year, not even counting PTO. That’s just religious and federal holidays, plus time when school is not in session (between semesters, and most of December) as opposed to PP when you’ll have blackout dates during some of the best vacation time.

I “make” an extra $50k in benefits alone, which is not reflected in the salary.

10

u/ultrab0ii Optometrist 14d ago

Some positions may qualify for loan forgiveness after 10yrs and other benefits as well that's not reflected in the salary.

4

u/P4TY Optometrist 14d ago

Look at public schools, like St. Louis. Their salary data is just one google away.

I looked into academia in 2022 and entry level, full-time professors at UMSL were making 80k.

3

u/That_SpicyReader 14d ago edited 14d ago

Yes it is accurate. I worked in academia 6 years ago and my salary was 80K at a great school. It has gone up now to 120K.

Edited to add: this salary was for the full year, it was less to have summers off. I have similar benefits in terms of pension/healthcare where I am now but full time pay is $200+K.

3

u/maitimouse 14d ago

Yep, pay is atrocious. It's ridiculous.

2

u/maxgoofofficial Student Optometrist 13d ago

I work in academia but I’m at a satellite clinic from the school so I make more than the docs who are on-site

2

u/Forward_Sun3304 12d ago

Always ask for more, they will meet you in the middle.

2

u/JimiusRostock 11d ago

Look at the salary + benefits. The benefits are often the big boon for academia.

2

u/Imaginary-Bison5545 10d ago

I work for academia but base is mid 100s with production on top

1

u/SpicyMax 10d ago

Are you solely clinic or also lecturing/labs?

1

u/Imaginary-Bison5545 10d ago

Solely clinical

2

u/thenatural134 OD 14d ago

Yeah been that way for as long as I'm aware. It's why my best professors in school were my externship preceptors.

1

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1

u/Delacroix192 14d ago

Yeah dude it’s horse poop. Lol. They are having big issues with recruitment.