Total Compensation at Stanford

Every job at Stanford is assigned to a pay range with minimum and maximum salary levels that define what the University pays for the job. The pay ranges are periodically updated to reflect market trends for comparable jobs. Although we do not post most ranges, our market analysis (externally and internally) ensures that the salaries paid are fair and competitive. There is flexibility within each pay range to compensate employees based on skills, abilities and knowledge needed within different job types.

Stanford’s total pay and benefits package is one of the best of any Bay Area employer and people choose to work at Stanford for a number of reasons beyond that.

We pay “at market” and give raises based on merit.

Central to our “total compensation” philosophy is our aim to provide salaries/wages in each job category equal to the competitive marketplace average for similar positions. This means that we pay “at market.” Further, as a pay-for-performance employer, annual increases to employees' base salaries are based on merit (unless specified in a bargaining unit contract). The intent is provide an annual percentage increase to an employee's base salary that reflects their work results (when compared to peers) in achievement of individual and organizational goals. Some parts of the University may also provide variable-pay programs (bonus or incentive plans) to reward their best performing employees and to recognize staff who make special contributions.

Factors like “benefits” also come into play

for any individual thinking about becoming or remaining a Stanford employee. Our benefits package is one of them. A recent analysis conducted by a third party confirmed that we offer one of the best benefits packages of any Bay Area employer. When compared to other major employers such as Cisco, eBay, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, Apple, Gap, Intel, Genentech, Oracle and Yahoo-Stanford ranked in the top quartile before including the value of benefits not offered by other employers such as our Tuition Grant Program, which helps employees offset the cost of a college education for their children.

There are other important reasons why people come to Stanford and stay at Stanford.

They come here to be part of one of the most respected and revered organizations in the world and to contribute to the university's mission of excellence in teaching, learning and research. In addition to good pay and competitive benefits, people value Stanford for its career development opportunities and work/life programs which help provide a rewarding and fulfilling work experience.

Indeed, many factors contribute to making the Stanford work experience second to none— exciting employment opportunities, an excellent work environment, a culture of commitment and caring, a sense of community, and the opportunity to be associated with an organization that is contributing so much to improving the world.

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