I've been thinking about what to do after my PhD (even though it's nowhere near done) and was wondering how much a typical post-doc pays? Does anyone have any ideas? There's stars in it! :-)

Hehe, stooping to outright bribery huh?
Afraid my answer will un-starry and vague, as I think it varies a great deal with region and subject. From what I know, in my field (genetics) the standard at universities is often ~£27k-£32k, but then there are postdocs in my lab on £22k as we're smaller and far North. How it compares for other subjects I'm not sure. I've found the best guide is to just do a quick job search and see what's on offer, it does vary but it gives you a rough baseline.

I agree with the advice to search for current jobs in your area (subject and possible geographical). My husband was a post-doc research assistant for many years, and the salary initially was quite low, especially since it was our only source of income, but then it grew over the years with annual increases which was nice. Now he's a Research Fellow so gets even more (stepped up onto a higher level on the university's pay scale), but there are limits, and it does depend on a number of factors.

Thanks Teek, I was looking around and I've found quite a lot of variation too. Hopefully, if I get a post-doc it'll be closer to 27-32K, as it seems a bit pee-poor getting something like 22K for all the hard work you've done for a PhD, but for the love of the subject. Thing is, I'm quite far oop north too...

Here in Canada there is quite a range in pay for postdocs. One current issue is that while PhD scholarships/fellowships are non-taxable, postdoc salaries are taxable (regardless of whether they are scholarships, fellowships, or paid from a grant). So, postdocs can experience quite a loss in pay if they have held a PhD scholarship. In addition, postdoc pay is unreasonably low ($45 K Canadian is the maximum going rate for a scholarship or fellowship from national and provincial funding agencies). However, these funding agencies do allow a postdoc to earn a little extra on top, from teaching, research, and whatnot. I sincerely wish you all the luck negotiating the pay that you deserve after all your years of hard work!

I'm on £24, 877 (do I get an extra star for precision?) which will rise to 26k when I pass my viva. At my uni this is the standard starting rate for all research jobs "below the bar" i.e. without PhD. Seems like an absolute fortune after living on my studentship...I've started shopping in Waitrose and everything...

Ah Heifer, you know you've made it when you can shop in Waitrose! I have many such little aspirations, in particular, one day, the owning of a dishwasher...! :-) That will be a sign of success!

I know!! Next on the list is going on a holiday that doesn't involve youth hostels, and choosing restaurants because they are nice rather than on the basis of whether or not you can download a buy one get one free voucher...

Not sure what your field is but post-docs in industry normally get at least 30k.

H

Ah Waitrose - such a happy place! I do admit to splurging there every now and again (when Ocado have a 20% off deal, which means they're roughly the same price as Sainsburys!), but my measure of wealth will be when I can afford to buy decent make up again. I always use a good tinted moisturiser (Benefit/Laura Mercier), but the day I can buy mascara/blusher/eyeshadow from anywhere other than Rimmel or Boots 17 will be a day of joy... Well it will be in about 3 weeks when I get my first pay packet from my new job!!!

Only in my dreams did I ever think I'd get £32k as my first salary... I think expecting 26/27k is what PhDers should aim for; although after adding things like Council Tax, the extra cost of transport/moving house, having to buy decent clothes so people don't presume you're a student you don't really have *that* much more than a stipend

I was offered £24k rising to £29k (on a 4 year postdoc contract), but this was abroad, and when I took account of higher taxes, relocating and living costs, I calculated I'd bearly be breaking even.

Usually in my field we don't actually have postdoc positions, we go straight to lecturerships (which seem to be starting at £30-34,000k now, though I just saw a newer university outside London advertising a starting salary of £37,000!).

I need a star I'm sliding down the 'leadership' board! (which also means I'm spending more time on my thesis and less on here!).

Hi Missspacey: at the university where I work, the starting salary for an assistant professor (this is the lowest lowel) is $75K. The upper salary for an assistant prof is $90.5K. Regular annual raises are $2.5K. When I use a currency converter online, that $75K appears to be roughly $42K GBP. Does that sound about right? I'm in the general area of health research, so I apply to the national funding agency for grants and whatnot. Their most recent postdoc fellowship competition offers $40K to those with PhDs or with licensure but less than 2 years of research or clinical training experience, and $50K to those with licensure and more than 2 years of research/clinical training experience (http://www.researchnet-recherchenet.ca/rnr16/vwOpprtntyDtls.do?prog=775&&view=currentOpps&org=CIHR&type=AND&resultCount=25&sort=program&all=1&masterList=true). These postdoc awards can be held for 3-5 years.