Funding Rates and Guidelines

Stanford is committed to supporting its postdoctoral scholars who comprise a vital part of the Stanford community. Each year, the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Postdoctoral Affairs convenes to recommend the postdoctoral minimum salary for the following academic year. Postdocs are represented on this committee by the SURPAS co-chairs, who are non-voting members. The increase in salary has met or exceeded the December 12-month Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the bay area each year since 2016.

Departments must review postdoc salaries/stipends on an annual basis to ensure that postdocs are funded at the minimum rate (or higher) on September 1st of each year. Faculty must meet the minimum and may choose to pay above this amount in an equitable manner.

FY27 Minimum Annual Funding Rates

By months of research experience (at Stanford or other institution) at 09/01/26 increase:

Appointments 61-72 months by exception only. No exceptions beyond 72 months.

How to Determine the FY27 Minimum Funding Amount for Current Postdocs

• See Job Aid: Change Form for details

FY26 Minimum Annual Funding Rates

By months of research experience (at Stanford or other institution) at 09/01/25 increase:

FY25 Minimum Annual Funding Rates

By months of research experience (at Stanford or other institution) at 09/01/24 increase:

Important Funding Guidelines

• Minimum funding levels are published annually in Spring quarter.
• Departments may establish their own guidelines as long as funding rates meet or exceed those established by the University.
• Departments must review postdoc salaries/stipends on an annual basis to ensure that postdocs are funded at the minimum rate (or higher) on September 1st of each year.
• For budgeting purposes, estimate a 4.5% annual increase from the current minimum funding level, but remember that increases to the minimum are never guaranteed.
• Funding paid in foreign currency must meet or exceed the minimum in USD, regardless of currency exchange rate, or be supplemented by funds from the appointing department.
• Funding levels are auto-calculated on the Recommendation web form.
• Clinical fellows at the SoM must be funded at the PGY level established by GME at Stanford Hospitals & Clinics. For more information on pay levels contact GME.

Historical Minimum Annual Funding Rates by Year

• NRSA support is limited to three years for postdocs. NIH provides eight levels of postdoc stipend for those with other forms of health-related training prior to accepting a Kirschstein-NRSA supported position. (The presence of eight discrete levels of experience, however, does not constitute an endorsement of extended periods of postdoc research training.) Stanford sets a five year cap on the postdoc training period (including time at Stanford and at other institutions).
• For information on pay levels for Stanford Hospital house staff, contact the Stanford Hospital GME Office.
• When determining funding levels for MDs, the years of concentrated research listed on the CV may be used; internships and residencies do not count as research years.