Fourth Triennial Toxicology Salary Survey and Trends in the Toxicology Job Market
Shayne
C. Gad
Gad Consulting Services, Raleigh, North Carolina
The 1998 Triennial Toxicology Salary Survey was conducted
as a joint project by the American College of Toxicology and the
Society of Toxicology. In addition to the two parent organizations,
19 others (the Teratology Society, the Association of Government
Toxicologists, and 16 of 17* regional chapters of the Society of
Toxicology) supported the effort by providing mailing labels for
their membership.
A total of 6360 survey instruments were mailed in
June/July of 1998, with 143 of these eventually returned as undeliverable,
making the effective mailing 6217. As of December 31, 2016 responses
had been received, or a response rate of 33.8%. This is comparable
to the response rates 1988 (Gad, 1989), 1991 (Gad, 1992) and 1995
(Gad, 1996). The survey instrument was a modification of that used
in the previous three surveys, with the major change being an expansion
of response categories for the upper end of the salary and bonus
ranges. It should be noted that there continues to be a significant
increase in the number of individuals reporting six-figure incomes
and in those receiving significant sums as bonuses, as is reflected
particularly in Tables 1 and 4. Survey methodology employed conformed
to standard procedures (Rossi, Wright, and Anderson 1983), though
the response rate for this survey remains high for such endeavors.
A total of 1608 of the respondents (1189 men and 419
women) were full-time empoyed holders of doctoral degrees in the
US and Canada. Table 1 presents the mean mean salaries (± one
standard deviation) for these individuals, sorted by years of experience
after receipt of their degrees, sex, and field of employment. Salaries
are in thousands of US dollars per year.
The mean salaries (± 1 SD) for the 153 master’s-level
respondents are presented in Table 2. Likewise, the results from
the 128 bachelor’s-level respondents are presented in Table
3. The remaining doctoral-level respondents were not employed full-time
during the reporting period and are characterized as follows:
Graduate students 45
Working part-time 32
Unemployed 12
Retired 45
Postdoctoral 53
Table 4 presents a summary of data on those 662 (41%
of all employed) doctoral recipients who received bonuses in addition
to salary. Table 5 presents a summary of the geographic distribution
of the doctoral-level survey respondents. Table 6 summarizes the
major professional society memberships of the respondents. Many
respondents belong to more than one society.
Table 7 summarizes, according to the National Research
Council (NRC), the numbers of individuals who have received their
doctorates in toxicology since 1983 (the first year that the degree
was included in the NRC annual summary) (National Research Council,
1998). Also included is a summary of the number of doctoral respondents
by years post-degree.
Table 8 provides a summary analysis of the influence
of geographic location of place of employment on salaries for doctoral-level
employees. Table 9 provides a summary of the influence of certification
(either American Board of Toxicology or Academy of Toxicologic Sciences)
on doctoral and master’s-level salaries. Table 10 presents
an overview of the number of individuals who have moved into self-employed
consulting over the last 4 years.
It has been proposed that this survey be conducted
by e-mail in the future. Respondents were asked if they had e-mail
access for such a purpose. Of those employed full time that responded
to the question, over 92% (1405) of those with doctoral degrees,
87% (130) of those with master’s degrees and 58% (73) of those
with bachelor’s degrees reported having e-mail access. However,
as was widely pointed out, an e-mail based system would not provide
anonimity.
Discussions and Conclusions
The 1998 survey results point to a number of different trends that
deserve attention and add some insights into the job market, career
path, and the conduct of future studies. First, although the situation
has clearly improved for most entry-level and early-career positions,
women continue to be compensated at a lower level than their male
counterparts. Secondly, salaries as a whole have increased in the
field, but the most impressive differences are not by geographic
location of place of employment, but rather by type of employer.
Finally, certification continues to play a significant positive
role in compensation. Finally, the results over the course of surveys
conducted since 1989 were analyzed to characterize the employment
trends in the profession over this period. These are summarized
in Table 11.
References
Gad
SC. (1989) First international salary survey for toxicologist.
J Am Coll Toxicol 8:1053-70.
Gad SC. (1992) 1991 Toxicology salary survey results. J Am
Coll Toxicol 11:369-78.
Gad SC. (1996) Third Triennial Toxicology Salary Survey. J
Am Coll Toxicol 15:83-89.
National Research Council. (1993) Doctorate Recipients from
United States Universities Summary Report. Washington, DC:
National Research Council.
Rossi PH, Wright JD, Anderson AB. (1983) Handbook of Survey
Research. New York, NY: Academic Press.
Table 1. 1998 Doctoral-Level
Salaries
| |
|
|
Years experience post-terminal
degree
|
| |
|
Number of respondents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employer
|
Sex
|
0-1
|
1-3
|
3-5
|
5-10
|
10-20
|
20+
|
| Consumer
product |
M
F
|
58
25
|
65
55
|
85
65
|
68
(55-75)
62 (55-65)
|
83
(75-105)
80 (70-80)
|
109.9
(85-123)
106.6 (70-200)
|
133.3 (98-135)
121 9 (115-135)
|
| Pharmaceutical
industry |
M
F
|
214
96
|
61.6 (35-105)
-
|
72.5
(63-92)
70.7 (65-75)
|
79.3
(65-95)
71.3 (65-75)
|
86.9
(78-116)
85.8 (65-105)
|
111.6
(89-135)
101.3 (85-115)
|
144.3
(115-185)
105 (75-135)
|
| Consultants |
M
F
|
45
32
|
-
35
|
63
(45-85)
55 (45-65)
|
-
-
|
83
(68-105)
75 (65-95)
|
101.4
(75-124)
100.9 (85-105)
|
103.9
(85-125)
160
|
| Consultants
(self-employed) |
M
F
|
64*
15**
|
45
-
|
-
45
|
75
65
|
180
-
|
139.5
(85-200)
92.5 (50-110)
|
144
(85-195)
148.3 (100-150)
|
| Chemical
industry |
M
F
|
130
37
|
60
60 (57-63)
|
65
65 (61-69)
|
70
65
|
83.6
(75-95)
77.5 (70-90)
|
99.5
(85-115)
88.9 (70-100)
|
119.1
(95-145)
116 (80-160)
|
| Contract
research |
M
F
|
130
36
|
58.3
(35-85)
-
|
63.6
(44-86)
52 (45-55)
|
62.6
(55-75)
65
|
74.5
(55-95)
75 (50-100)
|
98.2
(75-125)
82.7 (50-100)
|
111
(92-130)
83.9 (60-110)
|
| Academic |
M
F
|
308
85
|
25
45
|
48.3
(25-65)
37.9 (25-65)
|
43 (35-65)
53 (45-65)
|
50.3
(35-65)
48.6 (45-55)
|
77.2
(55-105)
62 (45-75)
|
99.8
(83-115)
91.6 (65-115)
|
| State/local
government |
M
F
|
47
25
|
40
(35-45)
25
|
40
(35-45)
-
|
50
(45-55)
48.3 (45-55)
|
57.5
(55-65)
65 (55-75)
|
76.9
(68-84)
70 (65-75)
|
95.6
(75-118)
79.3 (65-85)
|
| Federal
government |
M
F
|
154
59
|
50
-
|
60
(55-65)
58.3 (45-75)
|
55
(45-65)
53.6 (45-55)
|
58
(48-68)
62.3 (55-65)
|
74.6
(62-86)
73.1 (65-85)
|
89.8
(66-116)
93 (85-105)
|
| Petrochemical |
M
F
|
9
***
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
-
-
|
85
-
|
98.3
(85-115)
85
|
105 (95-115)
-
|
| Others |
M
F
|
31
7
|
45
-
|
52
(45-55) |
60
(55-65)
50
|
85
(75-95)
-
|
100.4
(75-115)
101 (80-110)
|
135.9 (115-148)
110 (105-115)
|
Note: Salaries are in thousands of US dollars: mean (range
for ± 1 SD). In 37/49 cases, male salaries
were higher.
* 47 earned more than $100K
** 10 earned more than $100K
*** Insufficient entries to allow separate analysis. Data pooled
with chemical industry group.
Table 2. 1998 Master’s-level salaries
| |
|
|
Years experience post-terminal degree
|
| |
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employer
|
Sex
|
respondents
|
0-1
|
1-3
|
3-5
|
5-10
|
10-20
|
20+
|
| Consumer
product |
M
F
|
5
7
|
-
35
|
-
40 (35-45)
|
45
55
|
75
-
|
78
(75-85)
70 (65-75)
|
-
-
|
| Pharmaceutical
industry |
M
F
|
20
19
|
45
50
|
60
(55-65)
45
|
63
52 (35-85)
|
55
59 (54-64)
|
80
(65-105)
85 (65-135)
|
87.5
(75-105)
85 (65-105)
|
| Consultants |
M
F
|
8
17
|
-
35
|
45
45
|
45
(35-55)
75 (55-95)
|
65
(55-75)
58.3 (35-75)
|
75
-
|
-
-
|
| Chemical
industry |
M
F
|
24
11
|
55
-
|
70
-
|
65
65
|
55
-
|
96.2
(75-105)
73 (65-93)
|
108.2
(85-154)
80 (55-105)
|
| Contract
research |
M
F
|
16
14
|
|
45
47 (35-65)
|
-
35
|
55
55 (45-65)
|
79
(55-105)
52 (35-65)
|
95 (55-115)
65
|
| Academic |
M
F
|
5
1
|
|
-
55
|
25
-
|
25
-
|
30
(25-35)
-
|
|
| State/local
government |
M
F
|
4
4
|
|
|
|
|
55
55 (45-65)
|
65
-
|
| Federal
government |
M
F
|
5
6
|
|
|
|
55
58 (45-75)
|
50
(45-55)
55
|
|
| Others |
M
F
|
7
7
|
|
65
35
|
|
65
45
|
85
72 (45-95)
|
105
-
|
Note: Salaries are in thousands of US dollars: mean (range
for ± 1 SD).
Table 3. 1998 Bachelor’s-level salaries
| |
|
|
Years experience post-terminal
degree
|
| |
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employer
|
Sex
|
Respondents
|
0-1
|
1-3
|
3-5
|
5-10
|
10-20
|
20+
|
| Consumer
product |
M
F
|
2
4
|
-
20
|
|
-
55
|
75
75
|
-
-
|
75
-
|
| Pharmaceutical
industry |
M
F
|
14
31
|
|
-
40 (35-45)
|
45
45
|
57.5
(55-65)
53.9 (45-57)
|
68.3
(65-75)
57 (48-67)
|
87.5
(65-105)
62.5 (55-82)
|
| Consultants |
M
F
|
1
4
|
|
-
25
|
|
-
85
|
85
-
|
|
| Chemical
industry |
M
F
|
10
12
|
|
35
-
|
|
75
49 (45-55)
|
65
45
|
60
(55-65)
89 (75-130)
|
| Contract
research |
M
F
|
17
14
|
27 (19-35)
25
|
-
25
|
|
38
-
|
63
(45-85)
-
|
55
56.6 (37-75)
|
| Academic |
M
F
|
1
2
|
|
20
-
|
|
-
25
|
59
(45-75)
40 (35-45)
|
|
| State/local
government |
M
F
|
1
1
|
|
|
|
|
25
-
|
|
| Federal
government |
M
F
|
4
2
|
|
|
|
-
55
|
45
35
|
92
(85-105)
-
|
| Others |
M
F
|
6
2
|
30 (25-35)
|
35
-
|
35
-
|
-
85
|
|
85
75
|
Note: Salaries are in thousands of US dollars: mean (range
for ± 1 SD).
Table 4. 1998 Doctoral-level bonuses
| |
|
Number of
|
Years experience post-terminal
degree
|
| |
|
recipients/
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employer
|
Sex
|
respondentsa
|
0-1
|
1-3
|
3-5
|
5-10
|
10-20
|
20+
|
| Consumer
product |
M
F
|
35/58
20/25
|
|
-
-
|
12
2
|
3.5
2.5
|
8.4
12.5
|
31.1
27.6
|
31.2
27
|
| Pharmaceutical
industry |
M
F
|
196/214
78/96
|
|
2
-
|
6.1
11.7
|
10.3
5.0
|
12.7
9.1
|
20.1
19.5
|
26.7
15.2
|
| Consultants
(employees) |
M
F
|
16/44
23/32
|
|
-
-
|
2.5
4
|
10
1.5
|
6.7
4.7
|
9.8
8.9
|
8.4
40
|
| Chemical
industry |
M
F
|
100/130
30/37
|
|
5
1.5
|
5
1
|
-
10
|
10.1
10
|
15.2
6.1
|
31.2
12.5
|
| Contract
research |
M
F
|
66/128
12/36
|
|
1
-
|
0.9
-
|
3.2
-
|
5.5
5.8
|
11.4
8.2
|
25.3
2
|
| Academic |
M
F
|
8/308
1/85
|
|
0.5
-
|
|
|
3.0
-
|
6.5
5.0
|
4.3
-
|
| State/local
government |
M
F
|
3/47
0/25
|
|
|
|
0.4
-
|
|
1.5
-
|
10
-
|
| Federal
government |
M
F
|
37/154
11/58
|
|
|
|
0.7
-
|
1.1
2.3
|
1.1
1
|
3.1
1
|
| Others |
M
F
|
17/31
2/7
|
|
|
|
|
8
-
|
10.9
37.5
|
25.7
-
|
Note: Bonuses are in thousands of US dollars:
mean (range for ± 1 SD).
a Receiving bonuses/total (%).
Table 5. Geographic distribution of employed
doctoral respondents
|
State
|
Number of
respondents
|
State
|
Number of
Respondents
|
| Alabama |
9
|
New
Hampshire |
1
|
| Alaska |
0
|
New
Jersey |
125
|
| Arkansas |
17
|
New
Mexico |
9
|
| Arizona |
10
|
Nevada |
8
|
| California |
132
|
New
York |
63
|
| Colorado |
22
|
North
Carolina |
134
|
| Connecticut |
41
|
North
Dakota |
3
|
| District
of Columbia |
54
|
Ohio |
68
|
| Delaware |
23
|
Oklahoma |
6
|
| Florida |
14
|
Oregon |
6
|
| Georgia |
12
|
Pennsylvania |
86
|
| Idaho |
2
|
Puerto
Rico |
2
|
| Illinois |
70
|
Rhode
Island |
1
|
| Indiana |
20
|
South
Carolina |
6
|
| Iowa |
11
|
South
Dakota |
1
|
| Kansas |
17
|
Tennessee |
11
|
| Kentucky |
22
|
Texas |
107
|
| Louisiana |
11
|
Utah |
8
|
| Maine |
3
|
Virginia |
35
|
| Maryland |
102
|
Washington |
26
|
| Massachusetts |
31
|
Wisconsin |
18
|
| Michigan |
67
|
West
Virginia |
10
|
| Minnesota |
22
|
Wyoming |
2
|
| Missouri |
19
|
Canada |
27
|
| Mississippi |
13
|
Not
reported |
103
|
| Nebraska |
7
|
|
|
Table 6. Society affiliations of doctoral
respondents
| Professional
society |
Number of national members responding
|
| Society
of Toxicology |
1381
|
| American
College of Toxicology |
289
|
| Teratology
Society |
184
|
| Society
of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry |
127
|
| Environmental
Mutagen Society |
92
|
| Society
for Risk Assessment |
54
|
Table 7. Recipients of doctoral degrees (and
survey
respondents) in toxicology by year
| Year |
Graduates
|
Survey years post-degree/respondents
|
| |
|
20 + /506
|
| |
|
|
| 1983 |
60
|
|
| 1984 |
97
|
|
| 1985 |
98
|
|
| 1986 |
104
|
|
| 1987 |
115
|
|
| 1988 |
111
|
|
| 1989 |
91
|
10-20/660
|
| 1990 |
86
|
|
| 1991 |
104
|
|
| 1992 |
99
|
|
| 1993 |
94
|
|
| 1994 |
87
|
5-10/304
|
| 1995 |
84
|
3-5/82
|
| 1996 |
86
|
|
| 1997 |
82
|
1-3/38
|
| 1998 |
80
|
0-1/18
|
Table 8. Geographic comparison: doctoral-level
salaries
| |
|
|
Years experience post-terminal degree
|
| State |
Sex
|
Number of respondents
|
0-1
|
1-3
|
3-5
|
5-10
|
10-20
|
20 +
|
| California |
M
|
95
|
52.1 |
63.8 |
69.9
|
75.2 |
109.5 |
115.3 |
| |
F
|
37
|
52.4 |
64 |
68.3
|
75.8 |
100.3 |
113.6 |
| Illinois |
M
|
49
|
61.7 |
76.6 |
71.7
|
76 |
106.8 |
120.9 |
| |
F
|
21
|
61.9 |
76.3 |
70.6
|
73.8 |
98.7 |
119.8 |
| Maryland |
M
|
76
|
56.2 |
58.9 |
55.6
|
70.4 |
96.2 |
109.6 |
| |
F
|
26
|
53.6 |
60 |
57.9
|
68.6 |
91.6 |
98.7 |
| Michigan |
M
|
50
|
58.4 |
72.2 |
74.4
|
82 |
106.8 |
120.5 |
| |
F
|
17
|
60 |
72.4 |
72.5
|
80 |
102.9 |
113.6 |
| North
Carolina |
M
|
101
|
45.7 |
59.2 |
63.6
|
81.7 |
103 |
118.6 |
| |
F
|
33
|
46 |
57.1 |
61.4
|
78.3 |
100.2 |
110.7 |
| New
Jersey |
M
|
93
|
68.6 |
88.7 |
77.4
|
98.7 |
116 |
137.1 |
| |
F
|
32
|
67.2 |
79.8 |
72.6
|
89.9 |
106.8 |
128.2 |
| Texas |
M
|
83
|
59 |
70.4 |
73.4
|
81.8 |
105.4 |
118.7 |
| |
F
|
24
|
57.4 |
68.8 |
71.3
|
78.9 |
100 |
112.4 |
Note: Salaries are in thousands of US dollars: mean (range
for ± 1 SD).
Table 9. Certification and doctoral salaries
| Years
of experience |
Overall
|
With certification
|
Without certification
|
|
0-1
|
59.5 |
NA
|
59.5 |
|
1-3
|
69.4 |
76.2 |
64.8 |
|
3-5
|
72.7 |
78.4 |
66 |
|
5-10
|
83 |
93.2 |
75.8 |
|
10-20
|
105.3 |
113.7 |
97.8 |
|
20+
|
122.4 |
128.1 |
119.9 |
|
Respondents
|
1068 |
|
|
Table 10. Self-employed consultants: years so
employed
| |
Respondents
|
|
Years self-employed
|
Males
|
Females
|
|
1
|
6
|
2
|
|
2
|
6
|
1
|
|
3
|
4
|
1
|
|
4
|
2
|
1
|
Table 11. Trends in the Distribution of Employment
of Doctoral Level Toxicologists 1989-1998
| |
1989
|
1991
|
1995
|
1998
|
|
Academic
|
30.9% |
27.8% |
24.8% |
24.4% |
|
Pharmaceutical
|
14.0 |
13.5 |
16.4 |
19.3 |
|
Federal Government
|
11.9 |
16.9 |
13.2 |
13.2 |
|
Contract Research
|
10.3 |
8.5 |
8.3 |
10.4 |
|
Chemical Industry
|
9.9 |
9.1 |
9.6 |
10.4 |
|
Consumer Products
|
3.6 |
2.9 |
5.6 |
5.2 |
|
Consulting
(self-employed)
|
1.8 |
2.7 |
4.2 |
4.9 |
|
Consulting (firms)
|
4.2 |
6.7 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
|
State & Local Governments
|
4.7 |
5.7 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
|
Petrochemical
|
NA
|
2.5 |
1.7 |
0.6 |
|
Other
|
2.6 |
3.7 |
6.4 |
2.4 |
|
