Life sciences paychecks growing, survey says

Working in the life sciences has gotten more rewarding, a magazine survey says.

The median total compensation for life scientists is $85,000, up 13 percent from $74,000 in 2006, according to The Scientist magazine's online poll. The survey asked readers to report their own compensation and demographic information, and from February to June, 4,702 did so.

As expected, industry's median pay package of $107,000 is better than the $77,900 paid by academic or private institutions. Since 2004, salaries have grown at a 25 percent clip at publicly traded pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, while universities and private institutions have seen an increase of 17.8 percent, the survey found.

Some specialties perch higher on the ladder than others: Endocrinology, for example, is on top with a median of $159,000 and molecular biology brings in the least, with $101,000 for a tenured position.

In academia, the Massachusetts median for full professors is $149,000; $132,000 for associate professors; and $121,500 for assistant professors.

Georgia looks golden with its $192,500 for full professors, but there's a big drop-off for assistant professors, who get $84,000. Tennessee has the next highest pay for full professors, at $186,500, and it also has the next biggest gap for assistant professors, who come in at $85,000.

Minnesota's median was the lowest for full professors -- $124,000. Bottom dollar belongs to assistant professors in Michigan, at $81,000.