Effective January 1, 2020, the State of California’s minimum salary increased to $54,080 annually. The California minimum salary will continue to increase in 2021 and 2022 as follows:
- $58,240 effective January 1, 2021
- $62,400 effective January 1, 2022
In light of the above, and in keeping with the University’s alignment of the Postdoctoral Scholar minimum stipends or salaries with the California minimum salary requirement, the Postdoctoral Scholar category will increase to $54,080 annually. This minimum applies to all newly appointed and renewed Postdoctoral Scholars on or after January 1, 2020.
Postdoctoral Scholars currently receiving below $54,080 will require increases up to $54,080, effective January 1, 2020. For those Postdoctoral Scholars on training grants who are not considered salaried employees (Postdoctoral Scholar – Fellowship Trainees), the required increase will take effect on their appointment renewal date.
If needed, Compensation Partners in the Central University Human Resources Office (Linda Chung, lchung@usc.edu) or the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs (Dan Carino, dcarino@usc.edu) can assist in your preparation for these upcoming increases.
The recommended annual increases for Postdoctoral Scholars with six or more years of experience can still be referenced using the FY19 NIH/NRSA stipend guideline. And as is currently the case, each school is permitted to set a higher minimum for its Postdoctoral Scholars.
Please ensure that your research administrators are aware of the new requirements.