Salaries Increase for Medical Technology and Clinical Laboratory Science Faculty

Transcription

1 E D U C A T I O N Mary E. Koenn, MS, MT(ASCP) Jean Holter, EdD, MT(ASCP) Salaries Increase for Medical Technology and Clinical Laboratory Science Faculty ABSTRACT High salaries help to attract and retain competent teachers in medical technology and clinical laboratory science programs. To determine if salaries have changed since a previous survey, a questionnaire was sent to directors of 126 university-based programs. The response rate was 46%. Results were compiled by academic rank according to geographic location and type of program. In general, salaries have increased in the past 2 years. Salaries in some geographic regions and program types showed greater increases than in others. From the Medical Technology Program, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV. Reprint requests to Ms Koenn, Medical Technology Program, West Virginia University, PO Box 9211, Morgantown, WV Rapid changes continue to affect health care and particularly the clinical laboratory profession. Health care reform, laboratory consolidations, staffing shortages, and the closing of medical technology and clinical laboratory science programs 1,2 have created a time of transition. Periodic salary and vacancy surveys provide up-to-date information to clinical laboratory professionals, including faculty members at training institutions. 3 Adequate compensation not only attracts quality faculty, it contributes to career fulfillment, job satisfaction, and thus to effective teaching. 4 Competent and creative faculty leaders provide new directions and set a vision for the future of the profession, especially in transition periods. This article compares the results of a 1999 faculty-compensation survey to those of a similar survey in Materials and Methods Cost-of-living variations and regional personnel shortages are important factors to consider when evaluating salaries. The survey instrument in this study included questions about the type of program, geographic location, individual salaries, and academic rank. The questionnaire was sent to 126 directors of medical technology and clinical laboratory science university-based baccalaureate degree programs. 5 To ensure a valid comparison with the 1997 survey, 4 only university-based programs were evaluated and the questionnaire was similar to the one used in No attempts were made to match programs with those of the previous survey. Results Fifty-eight (46%) of the questionnaires were returned. Of these, 5 could not be used because in 4, the training programs had closed; the remaining questionnaire was discarded because the program was not based at a university. This left 53 (42%) questionnaires that met the criteria for inclusion in the survey. According to the responses, slightly more than half (52%) of the training programs had a configuration 2 years of preclinical college classes and 2 years of clinical classes. Next (26%) came programs, with 3 years of preclinical classes and 1 year in a hospital program. The third largest were the programs (6% of responses), with a baccalaureate degree and 1 year in a hospital program. The remaining 16% were distributed among various configurations

2 Table 1. State Composition of Geographic Regions Region States Northeast Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont South Central Atlantic East North Central West North Central West South Central West Alabama, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming Table 2. Salaries by Region for Each Academic Rank Region Professor Professor Professor Instructor Other* All Average 80,287 59,569 51,092 42,287 39,834 Low 55,200 43,020 35,200 34,000 32,000 High 122,247 97,362 71,189 71,398 73,200 Northeast Average 89,319 64,575 52,858 38,500 47,373 Low 63,867 59,000 46,516 38,500 37,200 High 106,238 69,611 66,667 38,500 55,425 South Central Atlantic Average 75,737 62,757 53,880 54,719 Low 55,200 43,020 35,200 40,000 High 122,247 97,362 71,189 71,399 East North Central Average 72,669 59,919 56,488 Low 64,284 50,292 48,000 High 85,294 86,000 60,367 West South Central Average 77,145 55,334 49,102 43,295 39,695 Low 69,852 47,194 43,381 41,200 34,000 High 82,000 62,000 65,912 45,389 45,389 West North Central Average 80,367 57,309 49,494 44,475 Section 4 Scientific Communications Low 62,350 52,250 41,437 39,300 High 94,000 56,953 61,760 49,650 West Average 79,081 59,375 44,626 45,931 Low 68,000 51,500 36,724 32,000 High 92,727 66,024 52,152 73,200 One response received

3 Table 3. Salaries by Program Type for Each Academic Rank Program Type Professor Professor Professor Instructor Other* All Average 80,287 59,569 51,092 42,287 39,834 Low 55,200 43,020 35,200 34,000 32,000 High 122,247 97,362 71,189 71,398 73, Average 81,038 61,086 53,202 42,287 42,949 Low 55,200 43,020 35,200 34,000 37,200 High 101,333 97,362 71,189 71,398 51, Average 65,617 60,653 47,657 40,983 Low 62,350 50,292 36,724 34,000 High 68,000 86,000 61,760 49, , Average 52,712 54,647 Low 52,712 43,381 High 52,712 65, Average 52,000 44,667 32,000 Low 52,000 41,000 High 52,000 49,000 Integrated Average 82,107 54,351 47,839 Low 63,867 47,194 45,000 High 106,238 67,314 52,000 Other Average 82,942 61,767 Low 73,300 51,000 High 92,727 73,200 2 years preclinical college classes, 2 years clinical classes. 3 years preclinical classes, 1 year clinical classes. One response. ll Baccalaureate degree, 1 year clinical classes. 3.5 years preclinical classes year clinical classes and 2.5 years preclinical classes years clinical classes. The states corresponding to each region are shown in Table 1. The largest number of programs (17 [32%]) were in the South Central Atlantic. The West North Central had the fewest programs, 4 (8%). The remaining programs were found in the West South Central (9 [13%]), Northeast (7 [13%]), East North Central (7 [13%]), and the West (8 [15%]). All salaries in the study were expressed as annual earnings. Salaries for each academic rank are shown according to region in Table 2. When respondents indicated a salary range rather than an exact amount, the average salary was calculated and used. For professors, earnings were highest in the Northeast (see Table 2). Associate professor salaries peaked in both the Northeast and South Central Atlantic. Assistant professor salaries reached a maximum in the Northeast, South 1 5 4

4 Table 4. Salary Changes (%) From 1997 Survey, by Region Region Professor Professor Professor Instructor Other* All Northeast 12.0 No change South Central Atlantic East North Central 8.0 No change 10.0 West South Central No change West North Central West Table 5. Salary Changes (%) From 1997 Survey, by Program Type Program Professor Professor Professor Instructor Other* All No change < No change , No previous data Integrated Other * Lecturers, clinical appointees, others. 2 years preclinical college classes, 2 years clinical classes. 3 years preclinical classes, 1 year hospital program. Baccalaureate degree, 1 year hospital program. ll 3.5 years preclinical classes year clinical classes and 2.5 years preclinical classes years clinical classes. Central Atlantic, and East North Central. The highest salaries for instructors were found in the South Central Atlantic. The lowest earnings were found in the East North Central (professor), West South Central and West North Central (associate professor), West (assistant professor), and Northeast (instructor). Salaries for each academic level are listed according to program type in Table 3. For professors, comparable maximum earnings occurred in 3 of 4 program types. The highest salaries for assistant professors were found in combined (3 + 1 and 4 + 1) and programs. The lowest salaries were reported in (professor); combined (3 + 1 and 4 + 1) and (associate professor); and 3 + 1, 4 + 1, and integrated (assistant professor) programs. Discussion For all programs, salaries increased by approximately $10,000 between successive academic levels if professors were excluded. This was true whether programs were grouped according to region or program type. Professor salaries were approximately $20,000 higher than associate professor salaries. This pattern also occurred in the previous survey. 4 However, not all 1997 patterns were repeated in The differences are shown in Tables 4 and 5. Increases and decreases were calculated from average salaries. For both region (see Table 4) and program type (see Table 5), salary increases occurred more frequently than salary decreases. Average salaries for all academic ranks increased when considered with respect to either region or program type. Instructors had the largest increase and professors the lowest. Section 4 Scientific Communications 1 5 5

5 Region-based salary patterns also differed from those of the earlier survey. 4 In 1997, faculty (all ranks) in the South Central Atlantic were among the lowest paid. In the new survey, South Central Atlantic associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors were among the highest paid. The average of all salaries in this region increased by 19% to 31% (see Table 4). By program type (see Table 5), the most significant increases (7% to 24%) occurred in the programs for all ranks. The largest region-based decrease was 8% (professors) in the East North Central. For program type, the largest decreases were 27% (associate professors) and 16% (assistant professors) in programs. In the West South Central, the high salaries (see Table 3) for professors and associate professors decreased approximately $20,000 and $10,000, respectively, from their levels in The low salaries in these ranks, however, increased enough to bring the average salary up 14% for professors and 3% for associate professors (see Table 4). Conclusion As in 1997, 4 salaries between successive academic ranks differed by $10,000 except for associate professors and professors, in which the difference was $20,000. In 1997, the lowest salaries were reported in the South Central Atlantic. 4 In 1999, salaries in this region were among the highest for associate professors, assistant professors, and instructors. The highest average salary for professors remained in the Northeast.l References 1. Turgeon ML. Lab staffing: what s become of the laboratorians? Vantage Point. 1999;3: Zeiger B. MT/MLT programs decreasing as laboratory needs change. Vantage Point. 1999;3:1, Castleberry BM, Wargelin LL Wage and vacancy survey of medical laboratories. Lab Med. 1999;30: Koenn ME, Holter J. Medical technology and clinical laboratory science faculty salary survey. Lab Med. 1998;29: Health Professions Education Directory , 26th ed. Chicago, IL: American Medical Association; 1999: