Princeton University salaries

Q: Is the pay good at Princeton University?

Yes, the pay is good at Princeton University. Compared to the industry average of $55,685 per year, the average annual salary at Princeton University is $61,494, which is 10.43% higher.

Q: What is the starting pay at Princeton University?

The starting pay at Princeton University is $37,000 per year, or $17.79 per hour.

Q: How much does Princeton University pay an hour?

Princeton University pays $29.56 an hour, on average.

Zippia score 4.3

Princeton University salary estimate

$61,494yearly

$29.56 hourly rate

Entry-level salary

$37,000 yearly salary

Updated December 15, 2025

Princeton University Salary Overview

At Princeton University, the average salary stands at $61,494 annually, reflecting competitive compensation for its employees. The university is known for its commitment to providing fair salaries across various job roles. The highest paying positions, particularly in research and development, command significant salaries, contributing to the university's reputation as a desirable workplace.

Salary by Location

Salaries at Princeton University vary based on geographic location, reflecting the cost of living and local market conditions. For instance, employees in higher-cost areas may experience elevated salary packages compared to those in other regions. Understanding these differences is crucial for prospective employees.

Departmental Salary Insights

Each department at Princeton has its own pay structure, with notable variations. Departments like research and development typically offer higher salaries. This information is valuable for candidates assessing opportunities within specific teams. Knowing the financial landscape can empower job seekers to target their applications effectively.

Highest paying jobs at Princeton University

The highest paying jobs at Princeton University are assistant professor, project manager, systems administrator, and instructor. Assistant professor jobs at Princeton University earn an average yearly salary of $105,077, Princeton University project manager jobs average $98,263, and Princeton University systems administrator jobs average $94,353.

The lowest paying Princeton University roles include janitor and camp counselor. Princeton University janitor average salary is $32,777 per year. So while the average Princeton University salary is $61,494 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.

Highest paying jobs at Princeton University

Rank	Job title	Average Princeton University salary	Hourly rate
1	Assistant Professor	$105,077	$50.52
2	Project Manager	$98,263	$47.24
3	Systems Administrator	$94,353	$45.36
4	Instructor	$86,120	$41.40
5	Specialist	$81,408	$39.14
6	Laboratory Manager	$81,150	$39.01
7	Visiting Researcher	$72,361	$34.79
8	Lecturer	$66,501	$31.97
9	PHD Researcher	$59,481	$28.60
10	Graphic Designer	$58,842	$28.29
11	Postdoctoral Research Associate	$56,351	$27.09
12	Doctoral Fellow	$55,719	$26.79
13	College Adviser	$55,610	$26.74
14	Police Officer	$55,593	$26.73
15	Research Assistant	$55,241	$26.56
16	Sales Associate	$49,288	$23.70
17	Internship	$48,980	$23.55
18	Office Administrator	$46,764	$22.48
19	Account Representative	$42,249	$20.31
20	Security Officer	$38,898	$18.70

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How much does Princeton University pay by location?

The average Princeton University salary varies by location. Princeton University salaries are the highest in Palo Alto, CA, at $68,516 per year. Princeton University pays the second highest average salary in Princeton, NJ, at $68,388 per year. It's important to factor in the cost of living when negotiating a salary or choosing a place to work.

Highest paying Princeton University locations

Rank	Location	Average Princeton University salary	Hourly rate
1	Palo Alto, CA	$68,516	$32.94
2	Princeton, NJ	$68,388	$32.88
3	Boston, MA	$64,530	$31.02
4	New York, NY	$64,074	$30.80

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Princeton University salaries by department

Salaries at Princeton University vary depending on the department you work in. Princeton University salaries in the engineering department are the highest with an average salary of $84,177. Employees in the education department at Princeton University receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $82,447 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at Princeton University include the hospitality/service and the administrative organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $37,584 and $48,540, respectively.

Average Princeton University salary by department

Rank	Department	Average Princeton University salary	Hourly rate
1	Engineering	$84,177	$40.47
2	Education	$82,447	$39.64
3	IT	$73,634	$35.40
4	Art/Design	$59,715	$28.71
5	Research & Development	$57,516	$27.65
6	Sales	$50,749	$24.40
7	Administrative	$48,541	$23.34
8	Hospitality/Service	$37,585	$18.07

How much does Princeton University pay by department?

Best paying Princeton University research & development salaries

Rank	Position	Average Princeton University salary	Hourly rate
1	Laboratory Manager	$81,150	$39.01
2	Visiting Researcher	$72,361	$34.79
3	PHD Researcher	$59,481	$28.60
4	Doctoral Student	$59,297	$28.51
5	Postdoctoral Research Associate	$56,351	$27.09
6	Doctoral Fellow	$55,719	$26.79
7	Research Assistant	$55,241	$26.56
8	Graduate Student Assistant	$51,851	$24.93

Best paying Princeton University education salaries

Rank	Position	Average Princeton University salary	Hourly rate
1	Associate Professor	$113,432	$54.53
2	Associate Dean	$105,555	$50.75
3	Assistant Professor	$105,077	$50.52
4	Instructor	$86,120	$41.40
5	Intramural Supervisor	$81,107	$38.99
6	Strength And Conditioning Coach	$79,354	$38.15
7	Peer Educator	$78,868	$37.92
8	Foreign Language Teacher	$76,401	$36.73
9	Student Athlete	$72,355	$34.79
10	Librarian	$67,982	$32.68
11	Lecturer	$66,501	$31.97
12	Strength And Conditioning Internship	$66,198	$31.83
13	Mentor	$65,150	$31.32
14	Cataloger	$64,064	$30.80
15	Teaching Fellow	$60,623	$29.15
16	Head Coach	$59,270	$28.50
17	Trainer	$58,512	$28.13
18	Teaching Assistant	$56,681	$27.25
19	College Adviser	$55,610	$26.74
20	Student Coordinator	$52,051	$25.02

Best paying Princeton University administrative salaries

Rank	Position	Average Princeton University salary	Hourly rate
1	Internship Director	$71,273	$34.27
2	Associate Specialist	$70,585	$33.94
3	Data Entry Associate	$60,839	$29.25
4	Student Internship	$55,116	$26.50
5	Document Control Administrator	$54,332	$26.12
6	Administrative Professional	$50,693	$24.37
7	Executive Secretary	$50,108	$24.09
8	Office Administrator	$46,764	$22.48
9	Administrative Assistant	$46,163	$22.19
10	Department Secretary	$39,844	$19.16
11	Office Assistant	$38,080	$18.31
12	Mail Clerk	$36,723	$17.66
13	Receptionist	$36,499	$17.55
14	Data Entry Clerk	$34,987	$16.82
15	Student Worker	$30,532	$14.68

Princeton University competitors’ average salaries

Average salaries at Princeton 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 Princeton 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	The University of Chicago	4.7	$63,947
6	Harvard University	4.2	$62,600
7	Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute	4.5	$60,059
8	Swarthmore College	4.6	$56,267
9	Pennsylvania Company Inc	4.7	$56,002
10	Vassar College	4.4	$54,849
11	Brown University	4.6	$54,364
12	Rutgers University	4.1	$53,047
13	Clark University	4.1	$52,536
14	University of Rochester	4.1	$50,883
15	Binghamton University	4.0	$47,660
16	Johns Hopkins University	4.4	$46,060
17	University of Notre Dame	4.5	$45,427
18	University of Pennsylvania	3.9	$43,523
19	University of Massachusetts Amherst	4.0	$41,605
20	Wesleyan University	4.4	$41,003

Recently added Princeton University salaries

Job	Location	Date added	Salary
Painting and Drawing Technician-Temporary	Princeton, NJ	06/28/2025	$32,328
Analog Darkroom Technical Support-Temporary	Princeton, NJ	06/28/2025	$32,328
Audio Visual and IT Support Technician-Temporary	Princeton, NJ	06/28/2025	$32,328
Andlinger Center for Energy and The Environment Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow	Princeton, NJ	06/28/2025	$75,000
Communications Content Creator-Temporary	Princeton, NJ	06/27/2025	$35,479

Frequently asked questions about Princeton University salaries

Is the pay good at Princeton University?

What is the starting pay at Princeton University?

How much does Princeton University pay an hour?

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Updated December 15, 2025

Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of Princeton University, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about Princeton University. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at Princeton 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 Princeton University. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of Princeton University and its employees or that of Zippia.

Princeton University may also be known as or be related to Day University Now Nursery, Princeton University and The Trustees of Princeton University.