Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Cornell University salaries
Cornell University salary estimate
$59,085yearly
Cornell University Salary Overview
Cornell University provides a variety of salary options across different roles, with an average salary of $59,085 per year. The highest paying positions include professors, who earn an impressive $186,138. Other notable roles such as laboratory managers and lecturers also command substantial salaries, averaging $82,134 and $81,837 respectively. In contrast, entry-level positions like camp counselors earn significantly less, with an average of $30,129.
Departmental Salary Insights
Salaries vary widely depending on the department. For instance, the education department offers an average salary of $76,419, while engineering salaries average $69,025. Conversely, departments such as administrative roles tend to offer lower salaries, averaging $41,616. Understanding these disparities is crucial for prospective employees.
Comparative Salaries
When compared to competitors like Stanford University, New York University, and Columbia University, Cornell remains competitive. Stanford leads with an average salary of $78,439, while Cornell’s salary structure reflects its own unique market positioning, influenced by location and departmental demand. This information is critical for anyone looking to navigate their career path at Cornell University.
Highest paying jobs at Cornell University
The highest paying jobs at Cornell University are professor, laboratory manager, lecturer, and scientist. Professor jobs at Cornell University earn an average yearly salary of $186,138, Cornell University laboratory manager jobs average $82,134, and Cornell University lecturer jobs average $81,837.
The lowest paying Cornell University roles include camp counselor and food service worker. Cornell University camp counselor average salary is $30,129 per year. So while the average Cornell University salary is $59,085 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at Cornell University
| Rank | Job title | Average Cornell University salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professor | $186,138 | $89.49 |
| 2 | Laboratory Manager | $82,134 | $39.49 |
| 3 | Lecturer | $81,837 | $39.34 |
| 4 | Scientist | $78,700 | $37.84 |
| 5 | Instructor | $78,371 | $37.68 |
| 6 | Programmer Analyst | $76,237 | $36.65 |
| 7 | Project Manager | $76,164 | $36.62 |
| 8 | Researcher | $75,884 | $36.48 |
| 9 | Resident | $64,827 | $31.17 |
| 10 | Data Analyst | $64,394 | $30.96 |
| 11 | Research Associate | $60,960 | $29.31 |
| 12 | Community Educator | $60,053 | $28.87 |
| 13 | Doctoral Student | $58,194 | $27.98 |
| 14 | Teaching Assistant | $56,682 | $27.25 |
| 15 | Postdoctoral Associate | $56,161 | $27.00 |
| 16 | Doctoral Fellow | $55,931 | $26.89 |
| 17 | Research Assistant | $53,427 | $25.69 |
| 18 | Program Coordinator | $53,179 | $25.57 |
| 19 | Laboratory Technician | $49,686 | $23.89 |
| 20 | Internship | $40,405 | $19.43 |
Rate the fairness of Cornell University's compensation policies.
Average Cornell University salary by state
Cornell University pays the highest salaries in District of Columbia due to higher costs of living and competition in the state.
| Rank | State | Average Cornell University salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $60,637 | $29.15 |
| 2 | New York | $59,923 | $28.81 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $54,427 | $26.17 |
How much does Cornell University pay by location?
Highest paying Cornell University locations
| Rank | Location | Average Cornell University salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $60,459 | $29.07 |
| 2 | Ithaca, NY | $59,372 | $28.54 |
| 3 | Arecibo, PR | $46,968 | $22.58 |
Do you work at Cornell University?
Did Cornell University's compensation package meet your expectations?
Cornell University salaries by department
Salaries at Cornell University vary depending on the department you work in. Cornell University salaries in the education department are the highest with an average salary of $76,419. Employees in the engineering department at Cornell University receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $69,025 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Cornell University include the administrative and the non profit/government organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $41,616 and $54,612, respectively.
Average Cornell University salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average Cornell University salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $76,419 | $36.74 |
| 2 | Engineering | $69,025 | $33.19 |
| 3 | IT | $67,580 | $32.49 |
| 4 | Research & Development | $56,076 | $26.96 |
| 5 | Non Profit/Government | $54,612 | $26.26 |
| 6 | Administrative | $41,617 | $20.01 |
How much does Cornell University pay by department?
Best paying Cornell University research & development salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Cornell University salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scientist | $78,700 | $37.84 |
| 2 | Researcher | $75,884 | $36.48 |
| 3 | Research Associate | $60,960 | $29.31 |
| 4 | Doctoral Student | $58,194 | $27.98 |
| 5 | Postdoctoral Associate | $56,161 | $27.00 |
| 6 | Doctoral Fellow | $55,931 | $26.89 |
| 7 | Research Assistant | $53,427 | $25.69 |
| 8 | Laboratory Technician | $49,686 | $23.89 |
| 9 | Laboratory Assistant | $35,987 | $17.30 |
Best paying Cornell University education salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Cornell University salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Associate Professor | $117,396 | $56.44 |
| 2 | Assistant Professor | $108,455 | $52.14 |
| 3 | Lecturer | $81,837 | $39.34 |
| 4 | Instructor | $78,371 | $37.68 |
| 5 | Teacher | $75,045 | $36.08 |
| 6 | Teaching Associate | $68,111 | $32.75 |
| 7 | Community Educator | $60,053 | $28.87 |
| 8 | Head Coach | $58,631 | $28.19 |
| 9 | Teaching Assistant | $56,682 | $27.25 |
| 10 | Peer Advisor | $56,100 | $26.97 |
| 11 | Education Department Internship | $50,639 | $24.35 |
| 12 | Tutor | $40,697 | $19.57 |
| 13 | Peer Mentor | $30,426 | $14.63 |
Best paying Cornell University administrative salaries
| Rank | Position | Average Cornell University salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Coordinator | $63,516 | $30.54 |
| 2 | Office Manager | $53,908 | $25.92 |
| 3 | Executive Administrator | $52,404 | $25.19 |
| 4 | Administrative Aide | $43,032 | $20.69 |
| 5 | Secretary | $42,982 | $20.66 |
| 6 | Administrative Assistant | $41,799 | $20.10 |
| 7 | Project Management Internship | $39,727 | $19.10 |
| 8 | Services Clerk | $34,004 | $16.35 |
| 9 | Data Entry Representative | $33,940 | $16.32 |
| 10 | Receptionist | $33,187 | $15.96 |
| 11 | Office Assistant | $32,939 | $15.84 |
| 12 | Student Internship | $30,916 | $14.86 |
| 13 | Student Worker | $27,850 | $13.39 |
Cornell University competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at Cornell University competitors, like Stanford University, New York University, and Columbia University in the City of New York, vary. Stanford University employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $78,439. The average salary at New York University is $73,429 per year, and the average salary at Columbia University in the City of New York is $67,995 per year.
Highest paying Cornell University competitors
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | 4.5 | $78,439 |
| 2 | New York University | 4.8 | $73,429 |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York | 4.2 | $67,995 |
| 4 | Yale University | 4.8 | $64,010 |
| 5 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | 4.7 | $62,855 |
| 6 | Harvard University | 4.2 | $62,600 |
| 7 | Princeton University | 4.3 | $61,494 |
| 8 | Pennsylvania Company Inc | 4.7 | $56,002 |
| 9 | University of Pittsburgh | 4.6 | $55,079 |
| 10 | Rutgers University | 4.1 | $53,047 |
| 11 | South Dakota State University | 4.5 | $50,710 |
| 12 | Tufts University | 4.6 | $50,290 |
| 13 | The University System of Maryland Foundation | 4.5 | $48,883 |
| 14 | West Virginia State University | 3.9 | $45,716 |
| 15 | University of Florida | 4.5 | $44,102 |
| 16 | University of Pennsylvania | 3.9 | $43,523 |
| 17 | Tuskegee University | 4.2 | $41,255 |
| 18 | University of the Virgin Islands | 3.9 | $40,108 |
| 19 | Campbellsville University | 3.8 | $35,443 |
| 20 | University of Maine | 3.9 | $34,056 |
Recently added Cornell University salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative Assistant IV-Litigation | Ithaca, NY | 06/30/2025 | $53,260 |
| Administrative Assistant IV | Ithaca, NY | 06/30/2025 | $53,260 |
| RYS Enfield Senior Program Manager | Ithaca, NY | 06/28/2025 | $45,309 |
| Ecornell Director, Enterprise Programs-West Coast Region (Remote) | Ithaca, NY | 06/28/2025 | $92,145 |
| Research Technician-Department of Entomology-Poveda Lab | Ithaca, NY | 06/28/2025 | $45,037 |
What employees say about salary at Cornell University
Benefits! Everyone I work with is fantastic as well. Hybrid schedule is life-changing.
None that I can see.
Retirement plans are great as well as health plan. Hybrid schedule is fantastic.
Frequently asked questions about Cornell University salaries
Search for jobs
Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Cornell University, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Cornell University. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Cornell University. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by Cornell University. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Cornell University and its employees or that of Zippia.
Cornell University may also be known as or be related to Cornell University.