Salary Scales

Faculty salaries at Dalhousie University are determined by the DFA Collective Agreement. Salary levels are based on academic rank and step within the salary scale, with regular progression through the scale over time.

The Collective Agreement establishes minimum salaries for each rank and step. These scales are updated through collective bargaining and apply to DFA members across the university.

How the Salary Scale Works

Faculty members are placed within a salary scale according to their academic rank and years of experience or service.

Ranks typically include:

  • Instructor
  • Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Professor

Within each rank, faculty progress through a series of salary steps.

Advancement through the salary scale generally occurs through annual increments, provided a member continues to meet their professional responsibilities.

Promotion to a higher academic rank results in placement on the corresponding salary scale for that rank.

Annual Salary Increments

Faculty members normally progress through the salary scale on an annual basis.

These increments are designed to recognize experience and continued professional contribution to teaching, research, and service.

Details regarding salary progression and eligibility are outlined in the Collective Agreement.

Salary Adjustments

Salary levels may also change in cases such as:

  • Promotion to a higher academic rank
  • Market or negotiated adjustments in new agreements
  • Special salary adjustments under the Collective Agreement

Salary Graphs

Questions About Salary

If you have questions about your placement on the salary scale or salary progression, you may wish to:

Relevant Collective Agreement Articles

Salary provisions are outlined in the Collective Agreement.

Common Questions About Salary

Faculty salaries are based on academic rank and step within the salary scale, as defined in the DFA Collective Agreement. Each rank has a salary scale with multiple steps that represent levels of experience and progression.

The salary tables in the agreement show the minimum salary for each rank and step.

A salary step is a level within the salary scale for your rank. Faculty members normally move up one step at a time as they progress in their academic careers.

Each step corresponds to a specific minimum salary amount listed in the salary tables.

Faculty members typically move up the salary scale through annual increments, which increase salary from one step to the next within a rank.

The timing and structure of increments are defined in the Collective Agreement.

When a faculty member is promoted to a higher academic rank (for example, from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor), their salary is adjusted according to the salary scale for the new rank.

The Collective Agreement outlines how salary placement is determined following promotion.

The salary tables establish minimum salaries for each rank and step. Individual salaries may be higher than the minimum depending on factors such as experience, recruitment negotiations, or other adjustments permitted under the Collective Agreement.

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